Number of Covid-19 cases in Cambridgeshire since pandemic began approaches 200,000 - with 7,500 in latest weekly data
About 200,000 people in Cambridgeshire have now had a confirmed case of Covid-19 since the pandemic began, official data shows.
There were 7,535 cases in the week to March 27, which was down by 81 (1.1 per cent) on the previous week.
Below, we look at how every area has been affected, along with the latest on hospitalisations and vaccinations.
While government data shows 199,490 cases have been confirmed since the pandemic began, the true number will be much higher, since not everyone will have been tested, especially in the earlier phases of the pandemic, and the data also relies on people reporting positive lateral flow test results.
Recent studies indicate that the proportion who have been reporting their results has declined significantly. Office for National Statistics data suggests that just one in eight cases may have been reported in early March.
It is likely then that more than a third of Cambridgeshire’s population has now had Covid-19.
And with the availability of free lateral flow tests ending on April 1, our picture of how many people have Covid-19 is set to become much less clear.
The county’s public health director, Jyoti Atri, urged caution, saying: “We do hope that as we move into spring, better weather will encourage more people to meet outside and infection rates will fall. We also know that we are in a better place than last year and Covid is not causing the level of harms that we have seen previously. Most people in the county are now vaccinated and boosted and the most vulnerable are now eligible for spring booster. Anti-viral treatments are also helping reduce the numbers of people becoming seriously ill.
“But Covid is still out there, it is very transmissible and is still causing people to become unwell. This is having an impact on staffing capacity in some of our essential services, like health and social care. Employers should ask people who are feeling unwell to stay at home, to stop the virus spreading throughout the workforce.
“Covid rates are high across the county at the moment and if you are feeling unwell with a temperature and a cough, Covid is most likely to be the cause. Commercial tests will be available, and it will be a matter of personal choice if residents want to take them up. Whilst it is no longer a legal requirement to isolate, it is still government guidance to stay away from others if you are unwell with a high temperature or bad cough until you feel better.”
The county’s infection rate for the week to March 27 was 1,146.5 cases per 100,000 people - above the national average of 873.9.
Cambridgeshire, excluding Peterborough, has now recorded:
- 199,490 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of April 1, 2022
- 6,462 in the seven days to April 1 according daily case data, which is subject to change
- 1,038 deaths by April 1 within 28 days of a positive test, with one each day from March 26-30
- 1,203 deaths, as of March 18, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.
Hospitalisations
Cambridge University Hospitals had 96 Covid-19 patients on its wards on Friday (April 1), compared to 88 the previous Friday and 76 the Friday before that.
It means Addenbrooke’s has similar numbers on its wards to the winter Omicron peak.
There have been long waits in the emergency department and cancellations of some planned surgery.
At Royal Papworth, there were eight Covid-19 patients on March 22, compared to seven a week earlier. Six of them were in ventilation beds.
Vaccinations
More than 1.5 million Covid-19 jabs have been administered in Cambridgeshire, with 82.3 per cent of those aged 12 and over having received a first dose, 78.5 per cent having had a second and 65.2 per cent having received a third.
Waning immunity means a spring booster programme for those aged 75 and older, and those aged 12 years and older who are severely immunosuppressed, will be carried out. Eligible people will be contacted six months after their last dose.
Meanwhile, appointments for children aged 5-11 to have a Covid-19 vaccination at large-scale vaccination centres across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Norfolk can be made from Monday, April 4.
Jabs for those aged 12 and over are available on a walk-on basis at all Cambridgeshire’s large-scale vaccination sites. Booking is available if preferred via www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine.
Cambridge
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Cambridge has continued to rise.
There were 1,638 cases in the week to March 27, up 79 (5.1 per cent) on the previous week, taking the infection rate to 1,309.7 cases per 100,000 people, well above the national average of 873.9.
Trumpington, with 215 cases, was the worst affected area, but this number was down from 234.
Cambridge has recorded:
- 41,177 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of April 1, 2022
- 1,402 in the seven days to April 1, according daily case data, which is subject to change
- 124 deaths by April 1 within 28 days of a positive test, including one on March 30
- 167 deaths, as of March 18, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.
South Cambridgeshire
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Cambridgeshire declined in the week to March 27, with 1,947 recorded down 77 (3.8 per cent) on the previous week.
The infection rate of 1,210 cases per 100,000 people - well above the national average.
Histon, Impington and Orchard Park, with 162 cases, up from 135, was worst affected.
However, the areas with the highest infection rates were Great Shelford and Stapleford (1,689.3), Cottenham (1,666.7) and Longstanton, Swavesey and Oakington (1,612.5). These three were in the worst affected 75 areas (middle super output areas) out of 6,789 nationwide, based on infection rate, with Great Shelford and Stapleford 37th.
South Cambridgeshire has recorded:
- 49,279 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of April 1, 2022
- 1,677 in the last seven days to April 1, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 212 deaths by April 1 within 28 days of a positive test, with the latest on March 26
- 251 deaths, as of March 18, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
East Cambridgeshire
There were 1,028 confirmed Covid-19 cases in East Cambridgeshire in the week to March 27, down 99 (8.8 per cent) on the previous week.
The infection rate was above the national average at 1,140 cases per 100,000 people.
Worst affected were Soham, with 148 cases, North Ely, with 141 and Littleport, with 137.
East Cambridgeshire has recorded:
- 25,563 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of April 1, 2022
- 821 cases in the seven days to April 1, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 107 deaths by April 1 within 28 days of a positive test, the latest of which was on February 23
- 131 deaths, as of March 18, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
Huntingdonshire
There were 1,926 cases of Covid-19 confirmed in Cambridgeshire in the week to March 27, down 46 (2.3 per cent) on the previous week.
The infection rate of 1,076.1 cases per 100,000 people was above the national average, with Little Paxton, Love's Farm and Great Gransden worst affected, with 148 cases.
Huntingdonshire has recorded:
- 53,796 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of April 1, 2022
- 1,721 cases in the seven days to April 1, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 328 deaths by April 1 within 28 days of a positive test, with the latest on March 29, 28 and 27
- 363 deaths, as of March 18, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
Fenland
There was a slight rise in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Fenland, with 996 in the week to March 27, up 62 (6.6 per cent) on the previous week.
This took the infection rate to 975.7 cases per 100,000 people, which was above the national average.
Whittlesey had the highest number of cases in the district, with 145, up from 97 the previous week.
Fenland has recorded:
- 29,675 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of April 1, 2022
- 841 cases in the seven days to April 1, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 267 deaths by April 1 within 28 days of a positive test, the latest of which was on March 21, with two on March 19
- 297 deaths, as of March 18, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
Peterborough
There was a small decline in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the week to March 27 in Peterborough, with 1,519, down 70 (4.4 per cent) on the previous week.
The infection rate of 749.7 cases per 100,000 people was below the national average.
Hampton Vale, with 121 cases, had the highest of any area in Peterborough.
Peterborough has recorded:
- 71,954 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of April 1, 2022
- 1,418 cases in the seven days to April 1, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 439 deaths by April 1 within 28 days of a positive test, including deaths on March 31, 30 and 29
- 484 deaths, as of March 18, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
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