Coronavirus cases in most parts of Cumbria remain above the national and regional averages despite a fall of 10 per cent in the latest weekly figures.
There were 2,702 new cases in Cumbria, a decrease of 296 and a fall of 10 per cent, from 2,998 new cases in the previous week.
Here are the latest number of weekly cases by Cumbrian district, accompanied with the rate per 100,000:
- Allerdale – 530 (542 per 100,000)
- Barrow-in-Furness – 397 (592 per 100,000)
- Carlisle – 540 (497 per 100,000)
- Copeland – 491 (720 per 100,000)
- Eden – 229 (430 per 100,000)
- South Lakeland – 515 (490 per 100,000)
The UK average is 454.5 per 100,000.
Here are the areas in Cumbria with the highest case rate per 100,0000, accompanied by the number of new weekly cases:
- Parton & Distington – 55 (1,069.2 per 100,000)
- Thornhill, Gosforth & Seascale – 84 (974.1 per 100,000)
- Ulverston – 72 (898.8 per 100,000)
- Parkside – 52 (795 per 100,000)
- Millom & Duddon Valley – 77 (788.2 per 100,000)
- Carlisle Belah – 55 (782.3 per 100,000)
- Egremont & Moor Row – 60 (774.2 per 100,000)
- Coniston, Broughton & Kirkby – 42 (759.8 per 100,000)
- Longtown & Border – 44 (745.9 per 100,000)
- Whitehaven Harbour & Corkickle – 39 (739.1 per 100,000)
- Keswick & Derwent Valley – 47 (700.8 per 100,000)
“Currently we have a high case rate of between 500 and 550 per 100,000 people per week (in Cumbria) and this had been rising since the beginning of August,” said Cumbria’s director of public health, Colin Cox.
“It may have started to level off a bit in the last 10 days, except in Copeland where cases are on the rise.”
Mr Cox added: “We are seeing increasing hospitalisations and lower numbers of deaths, but ticking along.”
He said that the “real concern” is if case rates and hospitalisations are “hanging around this level all winter”.
There are currently 60 people in hospital with coronavirus in north Cumbria.
The director of public health for Cumbria has a simple message for people in Cumbria.
“Get vaccinated if you haven’t been, get your booster jab when you are eligible for it,” said Mr Cox.
“The rollout in schools is underway and we have the national booking portal for 12-15-year-olds where they can book to be vaccinated at a local community hub rather than waiting for a vaccine at school or if they’ve missed their vaccination for whatever reason.
“Still vaccination is key. There are no legal requirements for face coverings, but people should wear them in crowded public places. People should maintain social distancing.”
He also urged people to stay at home and get a PCR test if they suspect they have the virus.