Record Covid-19 weekly case numbers seen in multiple areas of Cambridgeshire - in-depth analysis

Unwanted new records were set across Cambridgeshire as multiple districts recorded the highest numbers of weekly Covid-19 infections since the pandemic began.

Fuelled by high numbers of cases among schoolchildren - particularly those in the 10-14 age group - East Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Fenland and neighbouring Peterborough all had their worst week for numbers of cases, while South Cambridgeshire had its second worst. Only in Cambridge was the infection rate below the national average.

Below, we look at how every area has been affected, down to a neighbourhood level, along with details on hospitalisations, deaths and vaccinations.

As a county, Cambridgeshire recorded 3,197 cases of Covid-19 in the seven days to October 10, up by more than a quarter (672 cases, or 26.6 per cent) on the previous week.

Only during the peak of the second wave in January have there been more cases in a week.

By far the most commonly affected group are schoolchildren, with 843 cases among those aged 10-14 alone. This week, the Cambridge Independent reported how the vaccination roll-out to those aged 12-15 was hit by delays amid high demand.

The 5-9 age group, with 334 Covid infections, was the next worst hit, while there were 309 more among those aged 15-19.

Evidence that these infections are being transmitted into families is clear, however, with high infection numbers among those aged 40-44 and 45-49 - many of whom will be parents of the children affected.

Cambridgeshire, excluding Peterborough, has now recorded:

• 61,569 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of October 15, 2021
• 2,131 in the five days from October 11-15 according daily case data, which is subject to change
• 850 deaths by October 15 within 28 days of a positive test, including two on October 9 and one on October 7
• 1,030 deaths, as of October 1, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.

Hospitalisations

Addenbrooke’s had 29 Covid-19 patients on its wards on Tuesday, October 12, 11 of whom were on ventilation. It has been admitting one to nine patients daily in October. The nine admitted on October 8 was the highest daily number since August 18.

Royal Papworth Hospital had nine Covid patients on October 12, with six on ventilation.

Vaccinations

Some 997,532 vaccinations have been administered in Cambridgeshire alone, with 76.9 per cent of people over 12 in the county having received their first dose and 71.5 per cent having received both.

You can find details of walk-in vaccination sites here.

Meanwhile, there is a drive for more volunteers to help with the booster programme. You can sign up at www.nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk.

Cambridge

The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Cambridge rose by nearly a third in the week to October 10, with 285 recorded, up 69 (31.9 per cent) on the previous week.

However, the infection rate of 227.9 cases per 100,000 people was well below the national rate of 387.9 and by far the lowest of any district in Cambridgeshire.

Trumpington, with 66 cases, up from 36 the previous week, was the worst affected area for the fifth week running. Arbury and Coleridge, with 10 cases each, had the fewest Covid infections.

Cambridge has recorded:

• 12,028 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of October 15, 2021
• 233 in the five days from October 11-15, according daily case data, which is subject to change
• 100 deaths by October 15 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which was on October 9
• 142 deaths, as of October 1, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.

South Cambridgeshire

South Cambridgeshire recorded its second highest number of Covid-19 infections in any seven-day period since the pandemic began in the week to October 10.

There were 752 cases, up 196 (35.3 per cent) in the week, beaten only by the 807 seen in the week to January 4 when the second wave was at its peak.

As elsewhere, there have been rising cases at schools in the district.

On Friday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) was unable to confirm if people in South Cambridgeshire were among the 43,000 wrongly given negative PCR test results by the Immensa lab in Wolverhampton between September 8 and October 12. But the Cambridge Independent is aware of a case in the district where an individual tested positive using a lateral flow device, but was given a negative PCR test. The blunder has been blamed as one reason for high case numbers of the virus seen in the last week.

Confirmed figures for the week to October 10 show 752 cases, up 196 (35.3 per cent) on the previous seven-day period, taking the infection rate to 467.4, above the national average.

Worst hit for the second week was Cambourne, with 100 cases - down slightly from 107 in the previous seven days. This was the highest number in any single area in the county for the week.

Barrington, Orwell and Gamlingay was the second worst affected in the district, with 65 cases, while Cottenham, with 12, had the fewest.

South Cambridgeshire has recorded:

• 13,498 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of October 15, 2021
• 530 cases in the five days from October 11-15, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
• 169 deaths by October 15 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which were on October 5
• 214 deaths, as of October 1, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate

East Cambridgeshire

There was a rise in Covid-19 case of more than a third in East Cambridgeshire, with 514 recorded, up 134 (35.3 per cent), in the week to October 10. This was the highest seven-day figure in the district since the pandemic began, eclipsing even the height of the second wave in January, when 474 were recorded.

North Ely, with 92 cases, up from 34, was the worst hit, with Haddenham, Stretham and Witchford not far behind on 80. Swaffham and Bottisham, with 25, had the fewest.

East Cambridgeshire has recorded:

• 7,409 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of October 15, 2021
• 293 cases in the five days from October 11-15, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
• 91 deaths by October 15 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which was on October 9
• 113 deaths, as of October 11-15, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate

Huntingdonshire

With 1,047 cases in the week to October 10, Huntingdonshire also recorded the highest number of Covid-19 cases it has seen in any seven-day period since the pandemic began.

At the peak of the second wave in January, the district had 1,032 cases in a week.

There were high infection numbers in multiple areas, with Little Paxton, Love's Farm and Great Gransden worst affected, with 96. Huntingdon Hartford, with 14, had the fewest.

The infection rate for the week was 585 cases per 100,000 - higher than the national average.

Huntingdonshire has recorded:

• 17,714 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of October 15, 2021
• 696 cases in the five days from October 11-15, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
• 267 deaths by October 15 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which were on September 18 and 17
• 313 deaths, as of October 1, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate

Fenland

Fenland also broke an unwanted record in the week to October 10, by recording the highest number of cases it has seen in any seven-day period since the pandemic began, with 599 - up 79 (15.2 per cent) on the previous week. In January, when the second wave of the virus was at its peak, the highest seven-day total was 573.

The infection rate for the week to October 10 was 586.8 cases per 100,000 people - the highest in Cambridgeshire.

Worst affected were Wisbech South and Peckover, with 93 cases, and Whittlsey, with 72, while March East, with 28, had the fewest.

Fenland has recorded:

• 10,920 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of October 15, 2021
• 379 cases in the five days from October 11-15, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
• 223 deaths by October 15 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which was on October 7
• 248 deaths, as of October 1, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate

Peterborough

Peterborough also recorded its highest ever weekly total of cases in the seven days to October 10, with 1,291, up 292 (29.2 per cent) on the previous week. In January’s second wave, the highest total for any seven period was 1,138.

The latest infection rate was 637.1 cases per 100,000 people - well above the national average.

Orton Malborne and Goldhay witnessed a significant spike, with 125 cases, up from 69, while Orton West and Castor had 112, up from 71.

Peterborough has recorded:

• 27,701 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of October 15, 2021
• 873 cases in the five days from October 11-15, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
• 358 deaths by October 15 within 28 days of a positive test, with the most recent on October 12, 9, 6 and 2
• 403 deaths, as of October 1, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate

The global picture

Vaccinations by country

Hospitalisations

Variants

Read more

About 43,000 people ‘wrongly given negative PCR Covid-19 test result’

Cambridgeshire schools’ Covid vaccinations hit by delays

Times and locations for Covid-19 vaccination walk-in centres in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

October 9: Covid-19 cases by age and area of Cambridgeshire, as another 2,500 infections recorded in a week

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