WEDNESDAY 14 OCTOBER
- Latest figures show that the number of coronavirus cases is continuing to rise significantly in the Penn and Tylers Green area. Last week (ending Sunday night) there were 123 new cases per 100,000 population in the South Bucks area which includes Beaconsfield, compared with 66 the previous week.
- In the Chiltern area, which includes Penn and Amersham, there were 105 new cases per 100,000 people compared to the previous week’s 63. And in the Wycombe area, which includes Tylers Green and Hazlemere, there were 78 new cases compared to 47.
- The number of new cases in our immediate area has reached figures higher than the weekly figures during the first wave of the virus in the spring. In the seven days to last Friday (9 October), there were six new cases in Tylers Green and seven in Hazlemere. The Penn/Knotty Green/Holmer Green area recorded 16 new cases.
- The BBC reported today that South Bucks has the highest rate of Covid cases per 100,000 population in the whole of Bucks, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. It is the 99th highest in England. Council leader Martin Tett said that although Buckinghamshire’s numbers were lower than some other parts of the country the number was growing so fast it was a cause for concern.
- The whole of Buckinghamshire remains a medium risk area in the new three tier Covid alert system, the lowest of the three tiers. Chiltern Railways said today that Birmingham and Solihull are the only destinations in its network with tighter restrictions and passengers are being notified.
- The number of people claiming unemployment benefit has leapt during the pandemic. By the end of September 6,125 people (5.9 per cent of the working population) were looking for work compared to 2,245 (2.1 per cent) at the beginning of March in the Wycombe area, which includes Tylers Green and Hazlemere.
- In the Chiltern area, which includes Penn, the September jobless figure was 2,390 (4.3 per cent) compared to the March figure of 750 (1.4 per cent). The highest number is in the age group 25 to 49, but the highest percentage is in the 18 to 24 age group. The figures do not include those looking for work but not claiming benefits.
- Environmental Heath officers are planning spot checks on businesses in the county to ensure they are Covid secure and to offer advice.
- Aylesbury Waterside Theatre has cancelled all scheduled performances this year and is rearranging shows for next year. Wycombe Swan has cancelled or postponed its shows at least until 31 January next year. Windsor Theatre Royal resumed performances yesterday before very limited audiences.
- Norden Farm Theatre in Maidenhead has restricted performances and the Elgiva Theatre in Chesham is showing live streams and movies. Cineworld cinema in the centre of High Wycombe is closed, but Empire cinema at Cressex is open.
- Schools in the community are reminding parents about the potential implications of taking family breaks abroad during half term the week after next and the likelihood of quarantining on return from some countries.