Cambridgeshire begins 2022 with record Covid-19 infection rate as case numbers soar beyond 8,000

Cambridgeshire headed into 2022 with another record high number of Covid-19 cases, as the highly transmissible Omicron variant ran rife over the festive period.

The latest case data, which is subject to some change, indicates 8,265 confirmed cases of the virus in the county in the seven days up to and including December 31.

Below, we analyse in detail the cases by geographical area and age, and report the latest on vaccinations and hospitalisations.

The rolling number of cases in a week only reached 4,000 for the first time on December 14. But by December 30, there had been more than 8,000 in a seven-day period, indicating the extraordinary spread of the Omicron variant.

Confirmed numbers for the week to Boxing Day show 7,462 cases, up 1,310 (21.3 per cent) on the previous week.

The better news, however, is that the numbers in hospital have not risen at a proportional pace, although the number in Addenbrooke’s with Covid-19 is now at its highest since May.

The infection rate for Cambridgeshire in the week to December 26 was 1,135.4 cases per 100,000 people, which was slightly below the national average of 1,353.8.

Examining cases by age show rises in all age groups, aged 15 and up.

There will be concern that the lower numbers being seen among those aged 5-9 and 10-14 could rapidly change when schools return in the coming week.

Cambridgeshire, excluding Peterborough, has now recorded:

• 107,057 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of December 31, 2021
• 6,770 in the five days from December 27-31 according daily case data, which is subject to change
• 914 deaths by December 31 within 28 days of a positive test, with one on December 28 and one on December 26
• 1,097 deaths, as of December 17, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.

Hospitalisations

Addenbrooke’s Hospital had 65 patients on its Covid wards on Friday, December 31, eight of whom were in critical care. A further 12 inpatients were awaiting Covid-19 test results.

Admissions to the hospital have been rising. The 15 admitted on Boxing Day was the highest number since February 8.

However, the vaccination programme - and potentially the fact that Omicron is believed to lead to less serious disease for many - has meant the numbers in hospital are not currently where they were in the second wave. At the peak of the second wave, there were 265 Covid patients at Addenbrooke’s.

Royal Papworth Hospital was caring for 12 Covid patients on December 28, with 10 of those on ventilation.

Vaccinations

More than 1.4 million vaccinations have now been administered in Cambridgeshire.

Health authorities succeeded in making a booster jab available to all eligible over-18s in the county by the end of 2021, with walk-in sessions and pop-up clinics adding to the large-scale venues, pharmacies and GP surgeries offering booked appointments.

By December 30, 375,040 boosters had been given in Cambridgeshire, which is 56.2 per cent of all over-12s, although only those over 18 who had their second jab more than three months ago are eligible.

Cambridge Independent analysis of the data suggests about 80 per cent of the eligible population had received a booster in Cambridgeshire by December 30.

Of the over-12 population, 75.1 per cent have had a second jab and 81.1 per cent have had a first vaccination.

A walk-in vaccination clinics, offering jabs including boosters, is running at the Deakin Centre beside Addenbrooke’s on January 2, from 8am to 4pm.

Find out more about where and when to get your vaccination here or go to www.thevaccinators.co.uk for updates.

Cambridge

Cambridge recorded 1,531 cases of Covid-19 in the week to December 26, which was down 156 (9.2 per cent) on the previous seven days.

The infection rate was 1,224.2 cases per 100,000 people.

All but three areas had more than 100 cases, with the highest seen in Trumpington, where there were 198, and Central and West Cambridge, where 171 were recorded.

East Chesterton, with 88, had the fewest.

Cambridge has recorded:

• 20,857 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of December 31, 2021
• 885 in the five days from December 27-31, according daily case data, which is subject to change
• 110 deaths by December 31 within 28 days of a positive test, the most recent of which was on December 22
• 151 deaths, as of December 17, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.

South Cambridgeshire

Confirmed cases of Covid-19 rose by more than a fifth in South Cambridgeshire to December 26, with 2,025 recorded - up 373 (22.6 per cent). It was the first time more than 2,000 cases have been recorded in the district since the pandemic began.

The infection rate was 1,258.5 cases per 100,000 people.

Meldreth, Melbourn and Great Chishill, with 142 cases, had the highest number, while both Cambourne and the Histon, Impington and Orchard Park areas recorded 134. There were were 129 in both the Fulbourn and Teversham area, and Papworth, Caxton and Fen Drayton.

The latest Covid-related death in the district was recorded on December 23.

Daily case data, which is subject to change, suggests the numbers have continued to rise since Christmas, with 2,215 cases recorded in the week to December 31. If confirmed, it would be another record high for the district.

South Cambridgeshire has recorded:

• 25,924 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of December 31, 2021
• 1,357 cases in the five days from December 27-31, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
• 176 deaths by December 31 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which was on December 18
• 224 deaths, as of December 17, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate

East Cambridgeshire

There was also a rise in cases in East Cambridgeshire in the seven days to December 26, with a record 805 confirmed, up 119 (17.3 per cent) on the previous week.

The infection rate was 892.7 cases per 100,000 people, which was below the national average of 1,253.8.

Worst hit was Soham, with 132 cases and North Ely, with 112.

East Cambridgeshire has recorded:

• 13,401 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of December 31, 2021
• 598 cases in the five days from December 27-31, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
• 101 deaths by December 31 within 28 days of a positive test, the latest of which were on December 10 and 1
• 124 deaths, as of December 17, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate

Huntingdonshire

Huntingdonshire recorded 2,190 cases in the week to December 26, up 588 (36.7 per cent) on the previous seven days.

The infection rate was 1,223.6 cases per 100,000 people.

Yaxley and Farcet, with 184 cases, recorded the highest of any area, followed by Brampton, the Stukeleys and the Alconburys, with 161.

Daily case data, which is subject to change, suggests case numbers have continued to rise since Christmas, with a potential record 2,530 infections confirmed in the week to December 31.

Huntingdonshire has recorded:

• 30,684 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of December 31, 2021
• 1,671 cases in the five days from December 27-31, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
• 285 deaths by December 31 within 28 days of a positive test, including one on December 23 two on December 9 and one on December 2.
• 331 deaths, as of December 17, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate

Fenland

Fenland witnessed a huge rise in cases in the week to December 26, with a record 911 confirmed, up 386, or 73.5 per cent, on the previous seven days.

It took the infection rate to 892.4 cases per 100,000 people.

That was driven in particular by a significant spike in Whittlesey, where case numbers rose from 93 to 212 in a week. Every other area of the district also witnessed a rise.

Early daily case data suggests a continued rise to the end of the year, with 1,015 cases recorded in the week to December 31. If confirmed, it will be the first time the numbers have risen above 1,000 in the district.

Fenland has recorded:

• 16,191 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of December 31, 2021
• 482 cases in the five days from December 22-31, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
• 242 deaths by December 31 within 28 days of a positive test, the latest of which were on December 28, 26, 10, 9 and 8
• 266 deaths, as of December 17, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate

Peterborough

Confirmed Covid-19 cases rose by more than a quarter in Peterborough, with 1,861 cases in the seven days to December 26, up 417 (28.9 per cent) on the previous week.

The infection rate of 918.4 cases per 100,000 was below the national average, however.

Hampton Vale, with 150 cases, and Stanground, with 133, had the highest figures.

Early daily case data, which is subject to change, indicates a rising trend to the end of the year, with 2,381 infections in the week to December 31 - which would be a new record for the city if confirmed.

Peterborough has recorded:

• 41,750 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of December 31, 2021
• 1,777 cases in the five days from December 27-31, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
• 393 deaths by December 31 within 28 days of a positive test, with the latest on December 29 , 28, 16, 15, 11, 9 and 8, two on December 6, one on December 4, two on December 2 and one on December 1
• 436 deaths, as of December 10, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate

The global picture

Vaccinations by country

Hospitalisations

Variants

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