Swanage and Purbeck Rotary has called off its summer fete and craft fair due to an increase in the number of confirmed cases of Covid and fears that the event would attract a large crowd.
The fete and craft fair was cancelled last year because of Covid restrictions but it was hoped that this year the outdoor event on Sandpit Field near Swanage’s seafront would go ahead in August 2021.
This adds to a number of events that are not going ahead this year, which already include the Swanage Jazz Festival and, of course, the Swanage Carnival.
Pre Covid the Rotary Summer Fair occupied the whole of Sandpit Field near Swanage’s seafront
“We cannot risk public health”
A spokesperson for Swanage and Purbeck Rotary said:
“It is with great regret that Swanage and Purbeck Rotary has decided to cancel the Rotary Summer Fête and Craft Fair, scheduled for Thursday 12th August 2021. This is because of the increase in positive cases of Covid both nationally and in the Purbeck area.
“As a responsible organisation we cannot risk public health by holding an event that might attract a large gathering. We are terribly disappointed to have to take this action, but we hope everyone will understand the reasons.
“We will be in touch with all stallholders who have provisionally booked a pitch in the next few days.”
The organisers say that the event will, however, be back in 2022, bigger and better than ever on Saturday 11th August 2022.
Sharp increase in the number of confirmed Covid cases
This move follows the latest data that shows a sharp increase in the number of confirmed Covid cases, alongside a rise in the number of people with Covid being admitted to hospital in Dorset.
Public Health Dorset says that case rates are highest among younger people, but it is seeing cases increase across all age groups.
The number of people in hospitals in Dorset with Covid-19 has increased from 17 to 27 over the past week, and there has been a small number of deaths related to Covid-19 in the county.
Across the UK, data suggests that the vaccination programme has reduced hospital admissions and deaths, with a fewer than one in 1,000 infections now estimated to result in death, compared with one in 60 during last winter 2020/1.
Summary of Public Health Dorset data for the last seven days up to Friday 23rd July 2021
Confirmed cases in last seven days
- Dorset Council area: 1,006 compared to 581 in last update on 16th July 2021
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council area: 2,113 compared to 979 in last update on 16th July 2021
Seven day case rates per 100,000
- Dorset Council area: 265.8 compared to 153.4 in last update on 16th July 2021
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council area: 534.5 compared to 247.6 in last update on 16th July 2021
Swanage
In Swanage there were 30 confirmed cases in the seven days to the 18th July 2021 with a case rate per 100,000 people of 305.6.
“Please continue to do your bit”
Public Health Dorset said:
“We have seen a rapid increase in Covid-19 cases across the county over the past week, particularly in the BCP Council area where the case rate has more than doubled in a week to 534.5 per 100,000. Dorset Council’s case rate has risen from 153.4 to 265.8 in a week.
“The number of people in hospitals in Dorset with Covid-19 has increased from 17 to 27 since our last update.
“Please continue to do your bit – get vaccinated, get tested, self-isolate when required.”
Further information
- A list of walk-in vaccination sites across Dorset are on the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group website
- The latest update on Covid by Public Health Dorset
- UK Government map that shows the number of Covid cases by local area
