Record 10,000 Covid-19 cases in a week in Cambridgeshire - and concerning rise in infections among elderly following festive season
The number of cases of Covid-19 recorded in a week in Cambridgeshire has surpassed 10,000 for the first time.
The huge number comes as Addenbrooke’s warns of staff shortages due to the virus, while it cares for rising numbers of Covid patients.
Below, we look in detail at how every area of Cambridgeshire is affected, as well as examining the infection rate by age group and the latest on the vaccination programme.
Early data for the week to January 7 - which is subject to updates - shows there were 10,072 cases in the county. For comparison, in the seven days to December 14, the number of weekly cases surpassed 4,000 for the first time in Cambridgeshire.
Confirmed figures for the week to January 2, show 9,717 cases, up 2,186 (29 per cent) on the previous week, and evidence of the impact of mixing at Christmas.
The infection rate was 1,478.5 per 100,000 - meaning one in 68 people in the county had Covid-19 that week. Despite this shocking number, the rate was below the national average of 1,878.2.
Driven by the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, the high case number means nearly all age groups have witnessed a rise in cases.
Our week-by-week analysis shows how the spike in cases is rising through the age groups, with those aged 30-34 taking over from those aged 25-29 as the group with the highest infection rate.
More concerning, however, is the rise in cases among the more vulnerable elderly population, with 541 cases in those aged 70-plus in a week - further possible evidence of the impact of families coming together over the festive season.
Cambridgeshire, excluding Peterborough, has now recorded:
- 117,129 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of January 7, 2022
- 5,463 in the five days from January 3-7 according daily case data, which is subject to change
- 924 deaths by January 7 within 28 days of a positive test, with one on January 5, one on January 4, and others on December 31 and 30, plus two on December 29 and one on December 28
- 1,100 deaths, as of December 24, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.
Hospitalisations
Addenbrooke’s Hospital had a high of 70 Covid patients on its wards on Thursday, January 6.
This had dropped to 62 patients by Friday, January 7, which including nine in critical care. There were 19 inpatients awaiting Covid test results.
These numbers were up from 53 on Tuesday, January 4.
There was concern about staffing numbers this week, with 69 Cambridge University Hospitals staff testing positive on Thursday through its in-house programme alone. A further 19 household contacts tested positive.
The trust urged all its staff to take precautions and get tested regularly to safeguard services and protect each other and patients.
Meanwhile, Royal Papworth Hospital had 11 Covid patients on Tuesday, January 4, nine of whom were in ventilation beds.
Vaccinations
More than 1.4 million Covid-19 vaccinations have been administered in Cambridgeshire, with 81.3 per cent of over-12s having received a first dose, 75.5 per cent having had two doses and 59 per cent having received a booster or third dose, helping to ensure that the rocketing number of cases has not led to greater number of hospitalisations or deaths.
More than three-quarters of those over 50 have had their booster in the county.
In Cambridge, however, the figures lag behind this, with only 65.7 per cent of those aged 50-54 having had a booster.
Among the age group with the highest infection rate from Covid-19 currently - those aged 30-34 - only 30.9 per cent in Cambridge have had a booster.
To drive up rates further, all large-scale vaccination centres in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, except for Chesterton Bowls Club, will offer boosters on a walk-in basis as well as via booked appointments from Monday January 10. First and second doses will also continue to be accessible on a walk-in basis, except for those aged 12-15 seeking a second dose, who are asked to book. Find out more at www.thevaccinators.co.uk.
Cambridge
Cambridge had 1,649 cases in the week to January 2, up 103 (6.7 per cent) on the previous week.
The infection rate was 1,318.5 cases per 100,000 people and worst hit was Trumpington, with 226 cases - a record number for any area of the city in a week during the pandemic.
East Barnwell and Abbey, with 150 cases, was the next worst hit, but all areas except Petersfield (88) and Arbury (99) had case numbers in three figures.
Cambridge has recorded:
- 22,647 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of January 7, 2022
- 1,048 in the five days from January 3-7, according daily case data, which is subject to change
- 111 deaths by January 7 within 28 days of a positive test, the most recent of which were on December 31 and December 22
- 151 deaths, as of December 24, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.
South Cambridgeshire
There were a record 2,321 confirmed cases in South Cambridgeshire in the week to January 2, up 278 (13.6 per cent) on the previous week, taking the infection rate to 1,442.5 cases per 100,000 people.
Meldreth, Melbourn and Great Chishill had 181 cases - the highest seen in a week in any part of the district since the pandemic began - while Histon, Impington and Orchard Park was not far behind, with 177. Bar Hill and Boxworth, with 67, and Great Shelford and Stapleford, with 69, had the fewest.
South Cambridgeshire has recorded:
- 28,184 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of January 7, 2022
- 1,250 cases in the five days from January 3-7, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 177 deaths by January 7 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which was on January 4
- 225 deaths, as of December 24, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
East Cambridgeshire
There was a significant rise in case numbers in East Cambridgeshire in the week to January 2, with 1,151 recorded, up 339 (41.7 per cent) on the previous week.
The infection rate of 1,276.4 cases per 100,000 people was below the national average, however.
Worst hit was Soham, with 173, and North Ely, with 169, while Swaffham and Bottisham had the fewest, with 54.
East Cambridgeshire has recorded:
- 14,653 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of January 7, 2022
- 717 cases in the five days from January 3-7, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 102 deaths by January 7 within 28 days of a positive test, the latest of which were on December December 21 and 10
- 125 deaths, as of December 24, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire had the highest infection rate in Cambridgeshire in the week to January 2, at 1,792.3 cases per 100,000, although this was below the rocketing national rate.
There were 3,208 cases, up 997 (45.1 per cent) on the previous week, with Yaxley and Farcet recording 263, St Neots Eynesbury recording 206 and Huntingdon Central and West recording 200. Kimbolton, Great Staughton and Molesworth had the fewest, with 64.
Huntingdonshire has recorded:
- 33,907 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of January 7, 2022
- 1,614 cases in the five days from January 3-7, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 289 deaths by January 7 within 28 days of a positive test, including one on January 5, and one on December 29
- 331 deaths, as of December 24, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
Fenland
Case numbers shot up by 51 per cent week-on-week in Fenland, with 1,388 cases in the seven days to January 2, up 469.
The infection rate was 1,359.7 cases per 100,000 people, with the highest number seen in Whittlesey, with 229, and Chatteris, with 144. The fewest were in Leverington, Gorefield and Tydd St Giles, where there were 73.
Fenland has recorded:
- 17,738 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of January 7, 2022
- 834 cases in the five days from January 3-7, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 245 deaths by January 7 within 28 days of a positive test, the latest of which were on December 30, 29 and 28
- 268 deaths, as of December 24, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
Peterborough
Peterborough witnessed a bigger rise in cases than any part of neighbouring Cambridgeshire.
There were 3,208 cases in the week to January 2, up 1,339 (71.6 per cent) on the previous seven days. The infection rate of 1,583.2 cases per 100,000 was below the national average, however.
Worst hit were Hampton Vale, with 257 cases, and Stanground, with 221, while Central Park, with 86 cases, and Barnack, Wittering and Wansford, with 98, were the only areas with case numbers below three figures.
Peterborough has recorded:
- 45,370 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of January 7, 2022
- 2,274 cases in the five days from January 3-7, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 397 deaths by January 7 within 28 days of a positive test, with the latest on January 6, 4 and 1
- 437 deaths, as of December 24, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
The global picture
Vaccinations by country
Hospitalisations
Variants
Read more
Cambridgeshire’s emergency services wary of the impact of festive mixing
