The Isle of Wight Council has moved to reassure Islanders that there has not been a local surge in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and residents should not panic or feel unduly alarmed.
It follows the recent release of cumulative COVID-19 infection rates for the Isle of Wight and the expected release of new data later today (2nd July).
The Public Health England (PHE) dashboard currently provides numbers of cases from tests done in NHS and PHE laboratories — known as pillar 1 data.
However, from today, PHE is expected to also publish the number of test results from swabs taken at drive through centres and home testing kits processed in commercial labs — known as pillar 2 data.
This pillar 2 data was only made available last week to Public Health departments to inform the development and management of local COVID-19 outbreak control plans.
Last week PHE also published, for the first time, data which combined the rates of infection detected under both pillar 1 and pillar 2.
This shows that in the week commencing 15th June, the Island had a cumulative rate of COVID-19 cases of 296.03 per 100,000 population — to put this into context, the cumulative rate across England is 425.8 and closer to home, 360.77 in Southampton and 308.43 in West Sussex. Leicester’s rate per 100,000 was 875.8 in that same period.
Simon Bryant, director of public health at the council, said there was no evidence to suggest COVID-19 cases were increasing over and above expected levels and it was important to understand this was cumulative data. He said:
“I can reassure residents and businesses that the Island currently has low number of cases of Covid-19 and residents should not be unduly alarmed by this cumulative data.
“The important figure is how many new cases are being identified. In the week in question the infection rate for the Island was 2.8 per 100,000 population compared with a median of 5.4 across England and 140.2 in Leicester.
“Our number one priority is the health and wellbeing of our residents, and we will continue to use all data available to us to support our health and care system.
“The advice about hand washing, keeping our distance and following guidance is still paramount and will help to manage infection outbreaks.”
Pillar 2 data is ‘owned’ by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and is provided on the basis that the council does not publish the information but uses it for the purposes it is provided.
Council leader, Dave Stewart, said the provision of pillar 2 data had been a significant concern to the council as it had been for all local authorities across the country for some time. He said:
“We understand that the government is planning to publish the pillar 2 data for all local authorities very shortly and welcome this development as an important step in helping us to better warn, inform and protect the Island’s community and contain the spread of the virus.
“I am pleased to reassure the Island community that despite the update on data regarding COVID-19 cases, we continue to experience one of the lowest levels in the country.
“I am sure this is due to the support and commitment of our community in following our guidance and advice.
“The data takes account of our local testing and the increase is consistent with the national picture. But in our case, reaffirms the success we have had in keeping infections down and thereby keeping our community safe.”
Yeah right, why announce this now. Why not wait until all the DFL’s and holiday makers bring it over as a nice gift for us locals. More lies from the council.
i dont believe a word they say i am still waiting for my follow up phone call from day one
Pillar 1 and Pillar 2, wonders when Pillar 3 and maybe Pillar 4 will be announced.
Trying to baffle us with figures from here and there.
All the public, which includes me want is this.
The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Will we ever get it, who knows ! ! !
Pillars more like bloody pilocks they have no idea and we just have to sit back and watch the mainland breed come flocking over here and watch our cases soar…. we’ve been listed as a possible lockdown
Let’s see the ‘number of cases’ in another 2/3 weeks time. Stay safe everyone
Population on the IOW: 141,771
Covid19 case numbers on IOW: 204.
Percentage of Islanders infected : 0.14389
Deaths from Covid19 on the Island: 79
Percentage of Islanders killed by Covid19: 0.0557
But lets all over react.
421 cases since they revealed the hidden ones yesterday.
Forgive my ignorance of the finer points if math’s, but could give us those figures in percentage terms ?
Well get all departments open in hospital then and start treating people who are ill with other stuff and waiting for routine appointments, more people will end up dying of other illnesses than covid ! These people haven’t suddenly disappeared or miraculously cured themselves, and get G.Ps out of their hiding places and back to work !!!
According to the government website there have been 421 cases on the island. This could be updated further as tests done by drive ins and post are taking longer to be updated. The recent figure of 421 includes the cases done by post and drive ins up until the 15th June. (These figures include both pillar 1 and pillar 2, as described by the Echo)
Rate of infection per 100,000 now stands at 297.4, according to, today’s official government website.
More lies from our council as proven by new figures released today
This whole covid 19 is riddled with lies, and finally the lies are being exposed. But get ready for the next wave of lies, I’m afraid we are far from the end of this nonsense.
I don’t believe a word we re being told. It’s far to early to let holiday makers bring the virus over. We need to keep our island as safe as we can
Some of the lowest numbers in the country…ha bloody ha…that’ll soon change !!