There has been a sharp rise in new cases of COVID-19 being recorded in Herefordshire over recent days, with the Hereford South West (Newton Farm, Oval and Hunderton) area particularly affected.

Infection rates in this area of Hereford have risen by 68.9% in the seven days ending 19th September, in comparison to the previous week, with 76 new cases recorded. The area is currently recording a COVID-19 infection rate of 918.4 cases per 100,000 population, meaning that it is one of the highest in the country at present.

Elsewhere in Herefordshire, infection rates remain high across the majority of the city of Hereford and also in Leominster, where rates currently are close to what they were in the peak of the pandemic back in January of this year.

The majority of new cases are being recorded in those aged 30 and below, with the highest infection rate found in those aged 10-14 years-old, where the infection rate is currently 2,328 cases per 100,000 population. This means that close to 1 in 40 children in this age group have tested positive for COVID-19 in the seven day period ending 19th September.

What will be more concerning for local health officials is that this data doesn’t include today’s increase in cases, which was the highest since the start of the pandemic, with 200 new cases being recorded in Herefordshire.

SOURCE – Cases in Herefordshire, County of | Coronavirus in the UK (data.gov.uk)