Covid-19 numbers double in a week in Cambridgeshire amid concern over Indian variant: Find out how your area is faring
Covid-19 case numbers have more than doubled in a week in Cambridgeshire.
It will prompt concerns that the high numbers seen in neighbouring Bedfordshire, driven by the spread of the highly transmissible Indian variant, could drive up numbers further.
The spread of the Indian variant in various parts of the country has led to the University of Cambridge’s Prof Ravi Gupta to call for the June 21 date for relaxing all restrictions to be delayed for several weeks.
Below we analyse the figures for every area, which shows the district with the biggest increase in the week to May 30 was Huntingdonshire, which neighbours Bedfordshire.
On the other side of the county, East Cambridgeshire actually recorded a week-on-week fall, although daily case numbers show a subsequent rise in recent days.
Countywide, there were 79 cases in the week to May 30, up 46 (139.4 per cent) on the previous seven days.
However, the infection rate of 12.1 cases per 100,000 people remained below the national average.
The latest numbers show 21 more cases confirmed in Cambridgeshire on Friday June 4 - the highest daily figure since May 9.
The latest data shows Cambridgeshire, excluding Peterborough, has now recorded:
- 28,436 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of May 28, 2021
- 70 in the five days from May 31-June 4, 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.
The neighbouring Bedford region has one of the highest infection rates in the country for the week to May 30, at 153.5 cases per 100,000 people. However, the good news is that case numbers were down by 95 (26.3 per cent) to 266 compared to the previous week.
Also welcome was that the rise in case numbers in Cambridgeshire has not led to a rise in hospital admissions.
Cambridge University Hospitals had no coronavirus patients on its wards on May 30 or 31, the latest data shows.
The Royal Papworth Hospital had three, all on ventilation, but has had no new daily admissions recently.
The protective effects of the Covid-19 vaccinations will be crucial in keeping hospital numbers down, as the battle of time between the spread of the variant and the roll-out of the jabs continues.
Latest data shows 47.6 per cent of people aged 30-34 in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have now had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, along with 73.8 per cent of those aged 35-39, 89.7 per cent of those aged 40-44 and 87.9 per cent of those in the age 45-49 age bracket. More than nine out of 10 over-50s in the region have had at least one dose.
The second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine is known to be important in combating the spread of the Indian variant, and 59.2 per cent of those aged 50-54 have now had it, along with 58.9 per cent of aged 55-59 and 86.7 per cent of those aged 60-64. Above this age, more than nine out of 10 have had both jabs.
Cambridge
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases more than doubled in the week to May 30.
There were 21, up 12 (133.3 per cent), meaning the infection rate reached 16.8 cases per 100,000 people - narrowly above the national average.
Three areas had more than two cases - Trumpington recorded six, while West Chesterton and King’s Hedges had three each.
Cambridge has recorded:
- 5,869 confirmed cases since the pandemic began
- 14 in the five days from May 31-June 4, according daily case data, which is subject to change
- 88 deaths by June 4 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which was on February 25;
- 134 deaths, as of May 21, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.
South Cambridgeshire
Confirmed Covid-19 case numbers rose by six (85.7 per cent) to 13 in the week to May 30 in South Cambridgeshire.
Two areas had more than two cases: Barrington, Orwell and Gamlingay had four cases, while Papworth, Caxton and Fen Drayton had three.
The infection rate for the week was 8.2 cases per 100,000 people - below the national average.
South Cambridgeshire has recorded:
- 5,868 confirmed cases since the pandemic began
- eight cases in the five days from May 31-June 4, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 158 deaths by June 4 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which was on April 27
- 205 deaths, as of May 21, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
East Cambridgeshire
There were only two Covid-19 cases confirmed in East Cambridgeshire in the week to May 30, down two (50 per cent) on the previous week.
The infection rate of just 2.2 cases per 100,000 was well below the UK average.
However, numbers have increased since, daily case data shows.
East Cambridgeshire has recorded:
- 3,062 confirmed cases since the pandemic began
- 11 cases in the five days from May 30-June 4, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 92 deaths by June 4 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which was on February 15
- 109 deaths, as of May 21, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
Huntingdonshire
There was a notable rise in cases in the seven days to May 30.
Huntingdonshire recorded 32, up 25 (357.1 per cent) in the period, taking the infection level to 18 cases per 100,000 people, which was narrowly above the UK average.
Kimbolton, Great Staughton and Molesworth recorded 11 of these. The area neighbours regions in Bedfordshire where virus numbers have been spiking due to the impact of the Indian variant, although health authorities have not publicly confirmed if that is responsible for the rise here.
Little Paxton, Love's Farm and Great Gransden recorded five cases in the week.
Huntingdonshire has recorded:
- 7,982 confirmed cases since the pandemic began
- 28 cases in the five days from May 31-June 4, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 255 deaths by June 4 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which was on March 30
- 297 deaths, as of May 21, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
Fenland
Fenland recorded 11 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the week to May 30, up five (83.3 per cent) in the week to May 30.
The infection rate of 10.8 cases per 100,000 was below the national average.
Wisbech North recorded four cases in the period.
Fenland has recorded:
- 5,655 confirmed cases since the pandemic began
- nine cases in the five days from May 31-June 4, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 207 deaths by June 4 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which was on April 30
- 236 deaths, as of May 21, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
Peterborough
There were 33 cases in Peterborough in the week to May 30.
Unlike most areas of Cambridgeshire, this was down on the previous week, by 19 cases (36.5 per cent).
The infection rate of 16.3 cases per 100,000 people was narrowly below the national average
Peterborough has recorded:
- 15,919 confirmed cases since the pandemic began
- 29 cases in the five days from May 31-June 4, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 339 deaths by June 4 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 21, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
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