With Tameside's Covid-19 infection rate at an all-time high, the so-called 'pingdemic' is putting the borough's frontline services under unprecedented pressure. 

According to the latest Public Health England data, the latest infection rate in Tameside is 568.2 cases per 100,000 people as of the week ending 22 July. In that time, the borough recorded 1,287 coronavirus cases, which is 101 fewer than in the previous seven days. 

But the infection rate is still the fourth highest in Greater Manchester and significantly higher than the national average of 446.8 cases per 100,000 people. 

Inevitably, it's having an impact in the community and public services are not immune - with Tameside Council experiencing an increase in the numbers of staff being forced to self-isolate, as a result of being 'pinged' by the NHS Covid-19 app or contacted by NHS Test and Trace, when identified as being a close contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. 

Recycling has been hit particularly hard, with some collection rounds having to be stood down or delayed. 

The council says it's looking at how best to marshal its resources and is considering various options - such as emptying brown bins on a fortnightly basis rather than every week. 

The authority adds that it hopes the situation will have improved by the time self-isolation rules change for double-jabbed people in mid-August but is asking residents to "please bear with us" in the meantime. 

Councillor Allison Gwynne, Tameside Council’s executive member for neighbourhood services, said: “Our Covid infection rate is at an all-time high and like our partner authorities in Greater Manchester and across the country, we’re facing unprecedented rates of absence among frontline staff. This is creating a very challenging situation operationally.

“There will inevitably be some delays to collections, so if your bin has been missed please leave it out and we’ll empty it the following day. Our staff are working as hard as they can and we’re looking closely at our refuse collections to see how best we can best manage them as we cope with these new pressures.

“Hopefully, we will soon be seeing signs of improvement. We certainly expect things to be much better after August 16 when people who have received two vaccinations will no longer be forced to self-isolate if they test negative after being identified as a contact.”

Councillor Brenda Warrington, Tameside Council’s executive leader, added: “I can assure residents that we are doing everything we can to keep things going. We’re reorganising and diverting staff to prioritise frontline services such as refuse-collection, customer services and bereavement services.

“Our employees are doing everything they can and are grateful for the patience and understanding being shown to them. Please bear with us. Normal service will be restored as soon as possible.”

Further updates on bin collections can be found at www.tameside.gov.uk/refuseandrecycling. 

Read more from the Tameside Reporter

Click here for more of the latest news

Click here to read the latest edition of the paper online

Click here to find out where you can pick up a copy of the paper