Number of new weekly Covid cases nearly doubles in Telford

In the seven days up to October 18 – the latest benchmark date used by public health officials – there have been 276 cases in Telford & Wrekin, almost double the 146 positive tests the week before.

In the same period Shropshire has seen a slight decrease. As of the week ending October 18 there were 270 positive test results in the Shropshire Council area with 279 the week before.

Due to the way the figures are reported there is a lag in the most recent numbers for a complete week, however the highest number of cases reported in a day has come on October 19, with 70 positive tests in the Telford & Wrekin area.

The seven-day rolling rate of infection per 100,000 people as of October 17 – the most recent comparative date for both the Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Council areas – is 145 for Telford & Wrekin, and 87.6 for Shropshire.

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One of the figures used by the Government to decide on which tier of restrictions authorities are placed in is the infection rate – combined with others such as hospital admission levels.

A rate above 100 is one of the factors that can trigger a move into a higher tier.

Both Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin are currently in the lowest band of the Government's three tiers of regulations.

Telford & Wrekin Council said that 41 of the new cases in the borough are students related to Harper Adams University – contributing to a hotspot over the Newport area.

There are also six cases relating to care homes and 22 with schools and other educational settings.

The council has also confirmed there are 20 people currently diagnosed with Covid at Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.

A spokesman for Telford & Wrekin Council said that they were working to deal with the situation relating to Harper Adams, but that there is considerable passing on of the virus taking place between friends, family and work colleagues.

The spokesman said: "The number of covid cases has increased 89 per cent, nearly a doubling in the last week.

"About a third of this increase relates to students at Harper Adams testing positive and we are working hard with the university to manage that situation.

"Not all the increase can be related to students. There is ongoing transmission in the community - between members of the same family, between friends and work colleagues.

"Sadly some of our more vulnerable members of our community are being affected, with rates of infection increasing in the over 60s.

"We've all done so much to protect ourselves, our friends and our family but as infections continue to rise – we need to do more.

"Telford & Wrekin’s Covid Alert Level is currently ‘Medium’ and under tier one restrictions. We need to do all we can to avoid moving to ‘High’ and being placed under tier two restrictions."