Covid infections are rising in 327 areas – is YOURS on the hotspot list?

CORONAVIRUS infections are still rising in 327 areas and this interactive map reveals if your local authority is one of them.

It comes as the UK witnessed its higher number of new daily cases in three months yesterday – with 49,156 infections recorded.

Just 13 per cent of places have witnessed a fall in cases in the seven days to October 14.

Last week 234 areas had seen a rise in cases and Trafford in Greater Manchester had the highest infection rate in the country.

Ipswich in Suffolk has now taken over and is the most infected part of the country recording 1,162 new cases in the seven days to October 14 – the equivalent of 854.5 per 100,000 people.

This is up from 681.0 in the seven days to October 7.

Public Health Suffolk has said it is taking the rise in cases ‘seriously’ and has urged people to be vigilant.

Deputy director of public health in the area, Martin Seymour said that while there are no restrictions in place people should continue to take precautions to stop the spread of the virus.

He added that people should continue to wash their hands and wear masks in crowded places.

Wellingborough in Northamptonshire has the second highest rate in the country, up from 738.0 to 817.9, with 655 new cases.

Torfaen in Wales has the third highest rate, up from 687.5 to 814.1, with 772 new cases.

Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon has the highest rate in Northern Ireland (561.2) and Stirling has the highest rate in Scotland (493.2).

While these areas have the highest case rates across the three nations, there are five areas that have seen a big jump in the last seven days.

Bath & North East Somerset has seen the biggest jump, going from 270.4 cases per 100,000 to 759.8.

Local hospitals have also seen an increase in the number of coronavirus patients being admitted to wards.

Inside the Royal United Hospital in Bath there are currently 43 patients being cared for compared to over a week ago when there were just 25.

Stroud in Gloucestershire has also witnessed an increase in cases in the last seven days, going from 142.3 to 607.1.

The rise in infections here could be down to more positive cases being reported due to lab failures in Gloucestershire.

Stroud council urged anyone who had a negative PCR test between October 5 and 12 at a Department of Health and Social Care site to to book a new test.

Cheltenham, also in Gloucestershire, also witnessed a jump from 137.9 to 600.6.

Somerset West & Taunton has also seen a jump in cases from 337.1 to 791.4.

Somerset Council has urged people to look out for the main three coronavirus symptoms and winter colds continue to circulate.

Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire has also jumped from 88.0 to 483.3 cases per 100,000.

CASES RISING

Yesterday marked the sixth consecutive day that coronavirus cases exceeded 40,000 a day.

It’s a 16.2 per cent increase in cases from this time last week, suggesting the current surge is only continuing to expand.

The number of daily deaths within 28 days of a positive test result also shot up to 45.

Figures from today’s recorded figures mean the overall number of people in the UK who have caught the virus is now 8,497,868.

Brits have been warned the NHS is bracing for an “exceptionally difficult” winter even if Covid remains at bay.

Top doc Chris Whitty said flu and other seasonal bugs mean medics will be swamped regardless of the pandemic. 


Covid infections are rising in 327 areas – is YOURS on the hotspot list?