Somerset district among largest INCREASES in Covid rates

Somerset West and Taunton saw the rate of infections rise from 175.4 per 100,000 people, to 243.7 per 100,000.

All other Somerset districts saw a fall in the infection rate.

The figures, for the seven days to July 29, are based on the number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in either a lab-reported or rapid lateral flow test, by specimen date.

Data for the most recent four days (July 30 - August 2) has been excluded as it is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.

Of the 315 local areas in England, nine (3%) have seen a week-on-week rise in rates and 306 (97%) have seen a fall.

Lincoln has the highest rate, with 649 new cases in the seven days to July 29 – the equivalent of 653.6 per 100,000 people, up from 356.5 in the seven days to July 22.

Middlesbrough has the second highest rate, down from 1,044.1 to 573.1, with 808 new cases.

Blackpool has the third highest rate, down from 768.0 to 516.3, with 720 new cases.

The five areas with the biggest week-on-week rises are:

Lincoln (up from 356.5 to 653.6)
Exeter (396.5 to 504.5)
Somerset West & Taunton (175.4 to 243.7)
North Kesteven (277.1 to 343.8)
Breckland (166.5 to 207.2)

The list has been calculated by the PA news agency based on Public Health England data published on August 2 on the Government’s coronavirus dashboard.

The rates in other Somerset districts were (the figures are this week (number), last week, (number)):

Sedgemoor, 206.2, (254), 285.8, (352)
South Somerset, 184.7, (311), 352.8, (594)
Mendip, 191.2, (221), 369.4, (427)
North Somerset, 259.5, (558), 465.9, (1002)
Bath and North East Somerset, 322.3, (623), 515.3, (996)

Meanwhile, over the weekend, the number of coronavirus cases in Somerset West and Taunton increased by 147, official figures show.

In Sedgemoor, there were 113 new cases, and in South Somerset there were 105 new cases recorded.

There were no new deaths recorded over the weekend in any of the Somerset districts.