Best Covid-19 figures of the year for Cambridgeshire - but concern at rocketing infection rate in nearby Bedford
No neighbourhood in Cambridgeshire recorded more than two new cases of Covid-19 in the week to May 23, meaning the county had its best figures of the year.
But there will be concern that the neighbouring area of Bedford has one of the highest infection rates in the country, as the Indian variant runs rife there.
Daily case figures indicate a rise in numbers in Cambridgeshire in recent days, which health authorities will be watching carefully.
Below, we examine every area of the county in detail.
For the seven days to May 23, there were just 32 cases countywide, down 45 (58.4 per cent) on the previous week. No district in the county had case numbers in double figures.
The infection rate of 4.9 cases per 100,000 people was well below the national average.
By contrast, in Bedford, the infection rate was 208.3 cases per 100,000, as 361 cases (up 147, or 68.7 per cent) were recorded in the week.
The latest figures show Cambridgeshire, excluding Peterborough, has now recorded:
- 28,343 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of May 28, 2021
- 47 in the five days from May 24-28, according daily case data, which is subject to change, but indicate a rise on the previou week already
- 800 deaths by May 28 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which was on April 30
- 980 deaths, as of May 14, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.
These figures exclude Peterborough, which is discussed below separately.
Addenbrooke’s Hospital had no Covid-19 patients on its wards this week for the first time since September 21, 2020, and down from a peak of 265 on January 21.
Cambridge University Hospitals warned people against complacency, however, encouraging people to continue to follow social distancing guidelines, wearing face masks, ensuring there is good ventilation and fresh air, and washing hands.
Some 86.1 per cent of those aged 40-44 and 86.5 per cent of those aged 45-49 have now had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccination in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, along with more than nine out of 10 people aged 50 and over.
Cambridge
For the first time this year, weekly figures show fewer than 10 new cases of Covid-19 in Cambridge.
There were nine in the seven days to May 23, down 11 (55 per cent). The infection rate was 7.2 cases per 100,000 people, below the national average.
No areas of the city recorded more than two cases.
Cambridge has recorded:
- 5,852 confirmed cases since the pandemic began
- 16 in the five days from May 24-28, according daily case data, which is subject to change
- 87 deaths by May 28 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which was on February 25;
- 134 deaths, as of May 14, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.
South Cambridgeshire
There were also fewer than 10 new cases in a week of Covid-19 in South Cambridgeshire for the first time this year.
The district recorded just seven in the seven days to May 23, down eight (53.3 per cent) on the previous week.
The infection rate was just 4.4 cases per 100,000 people, well below the UK average.
No area of the district had more than two cases.
South Cambridgeshire has recorded:
- 5,855 confirmed cases since the pandemic began
- six cases in the five days from May 24-28, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 156 deaths by May 28 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which was on April 27
- 205 deaths, as of May 14, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
East Cambridgeshire
East Cambridgeshire had just four new cases of Covid-19 in the week to May 23, the same number as the previous week. No area recorded more than two cases.
The infection rate was just 4.5 cases per 100,000 people.
East Cambridgeshire has recorded:
- 3,054 confirmed cases since the pandemic began
- only one case in the five days from May 24-28, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 93 deaths by May 28 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which was on February 15
- 109 deaths, as of May 14, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
Huntingdonshire
There was an 80 per cent decline in Covid-19 cases week-on-week in Huntingdonshire.
Six new cases were recorded in the seven days to May 23, down 24 on the previous week.
The infection rate of 3.4 cases per 100,000 people was well below the national average.
No area of the district had more than two cases.
However, daily figures from May 24-28 indicate a rise again, with 21 cases recorded.
Huntingdonshire has recorded:
- 7,941 confirmed cases since the pandemic began
- 21 cases in the five days from May 24-28, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 256 deaths by May 28 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which was on March 30
- 295 deaths, as of May 14, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
Fenland
There were just six cases in Fenland in the seven days to May 23, down two (25 per cent) on the previous week.
The infection rate of 5.9 cases per 100,000 people was well below the national average and no area of the district recorded more than two cases.
Fenland has recorded:
- 5,641 confirmed cases since the pandemic began
- four cases in the five days from May 24-28, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 208 deaths by May 28 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which was on April 30
- 236 deaths, as of May 14, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
Peterborough
Peterborough had 53 new cases of Covid-19 in the week to May 23, up one (1.9 per cent) on the previous week.
The infection rate of 26.2 cases per 100,000 was above the national average.
Walton, with six cases, had the highest number, while Paston had five, as did Millfield and Bourges Boulevard.
Peterborough has recorded:
- 15,855 confirmed cases since the pandemic began
- 25 cases in the five days from May 24-28, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 338 deaths by May 28 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which was on April 16, according to preliminary Public Health England data
- 378 deaths, as of May 14, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
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