Covid-19 case number fall by a quarter in Cambridgeshire as infection rate declines in younger age groups
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases fell by a quarter in the week to November 7.
There were 2,119 cases, down 716 (25.3 per cent) on the previous seven days.
Below, we analyse every area of the county to show how each was affected at a neighbourhood level.
The fall follows a drop in infections during half-term week, which led to a notable decline in cases among the younger population. This, in turn, appears to have helped reduce transmission among families, and taken the infection rate to 322.4 cases per 100,000 for the week, below the national average.
The week-on-week decline in infections was also greater than that seen nationally, where case numbers dropped 6.5 per cent over the same period.
Extra measures are being undertaken in Cambridgeshire to control the virus after it was declared an Enhanced Response Area for Covid-19 amid high infection rates on November 1. That status, conferred by the government, will last for at least five weeks and gives authorities additional resources to drive up vaccination rates, including boosters for those eligible and first jabs at secondary schools for those aged 12-15, where the county council has also been encouraging the wearing of masks in communal areas, along with other safety measures.
Cambridge Independent analysis of Covid-19 infections by age illustrates the dramatic decline in cases among those aged 10-14.
In the week to October 24, there were 848 cases in this age group. By half term week - the week to October 31, this number had dropped to 482, and in the latest figures, to November 7, there were 279 cases.
The 10-14 age group remains the most commonly affected group, however, with those aged 5-9 next. But the 15-19 age group now has a lower infection rate than one the ‘parent age’ groups - age 40-44.
Encouragingly, the infection rate has fallen in the latest week in all over-60 age groups, apart from a slight rise in those aged 80-84.
Concern that the numbers of those in more vulnerable age groups was growing was a key factor in Cambridgeshire being designated as an Enhanced Response Area status.
Authorities will be keen to see if the return of schools after half-term leads to a resurgence in cases, but will hope that the high number of infections already witnessed, along with the accelerated vaccination roll-out, will help to keep numbers down and avoid wider community transmission.
Cambridgeshire, excluding Peterborough, has now recorded:
- 72,625 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of November 12, 2021
- 1,420 in the five days from November 8-12 according daily case data, which is subject to change
- 883 deaths by November 12 within 28 days of a positive test, with two on November 9, one on November 8, two on November 6, three on November 4, one on November 3 and three on November 2
- 1,053 deaths, as of October 29, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.
Hospitalisations
On Friday (November 12), Addenbrooke’s had 52 Covid patients on its wards, including eight in critical care. This was a drop from Tuesday (November 9), when it had 63, with 12 on ventilation. It has admitted between two and seven patients every day this month.
At neighbouring Royal Papworth Hospital, which has specialist facilities, there were 10 Covid patients on Tuesday, eight of them in ventilation beds.
Vaccinations
More than one million first and second vaccinations have been delivered in Cambridgeshire.
Nearly four-fifths (79.4 per cent) of over-12s in the county have had their first dose.
But under three-quarters (72.8 per cent) have had their second dose.
In the 12-15 age group, 43.8 per cent have now had a jab, which rises to 68.8 per cent for those aged 16-17 and 70.2 per cent for those aged 18-24.
Vaccination rates still lag behind significantly in Cambridge, with only 65.2 per cent of over-12s having had their first dose and just 58.5 per cent having had two jabs. However, uncertainty over Cambridge’s fluctuating population number means these percentages may be a slight underestimate.
Cambridge
The number of Covid-19 cases in Cambridge has held steady week-on-week, with 358 confirmed in the seven days to 358. This was down by eight (2.2 per cent) on the previous week) and took the infection rate to 286.3 cases per 100,000 people, which was below the national rate of 350.
Romsey and Trumpington recorded 39 cases each, while Arbury had 37, King’s Hedges had 34 and East Barnwell and Abbey had 33. West Chesterton, with 12, had the fewest.
Cambridge has recorded:
- 13,523 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of November 12, 2021
- 202 in the five days from November 8-12, according daily case data, which is subject to change
- 106 deaths by November 12 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which were on November 9 and 4.
- 144 deaths, as of October 29, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.
South Cambridgeshire
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Cambridgeshire dropped by more than a quarter in the week with November 7, with 559 recorded, down 224 (28.6 per cent) on the previous week.
The infection rate of 347.4 cases per 100,000 was very close to the national average of 350.
Worst affected was Papworth, Caxton and Fen Drayton, where 60 were recorded, although this was down from 78. Case numbers nearly halved in Cambourne, from 87 to 45, and fell similarly in Histon, Impington and Orchard Park (from 59 to 29) and in Barrington, Orwell & Gamlingay (40 to 21). Only three areas witnessed a rise.
South Cambridgeshire has recorded:
- 16,422 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of November 12, 2021
- 416 cases in the five days from November 8-12, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 171 deaths by November 12 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which was on October 24
- 218 deaths, as of October 29, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
East Cambridgeshire
The number of Covid-19 cases in East Cambridgeshire fell by more than a third in East Cambridgeshire, with 351 recorded in the seven days to November 7, down 220 (38.5 per cent) on the previous week.
Every area benefitted from a decline in cases, with the most significant fall seen in Soham, where the number of infection dropped from 113 to 67, although it was still the worst affected part of the district.
The infection rate remained above the national average in the district at 389.3 cases per 100,000 people.
East Cambridgeshire has recorded:
- 9,333 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of November 12, 2021
- 200 cases in the five days from November 8-12, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 97 deaths by November 12 within 28 days of a positive test, including three on November 2 and one on October 31
- 117 deaths, as of October 29, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
Huntingdonshire
The number of Covid-19 cases in Huntingdonshire dropped by more than a fifth in the week to November 7, with 566 recorded, down 163 (22.4 per cent) on the previous week.
The infection rate of 316.2 cases per 100,000 people was below the national average.
Most areas witnessed modest declines, although case numbers rose slightly in Godmanchester from 26 to 29. Worst affected was Brampton, the Stukeleys and the Alconburys, with 43 cases, down from 46. In Houghton, Hemingford and Fenstanton, which was worst affected the previous week, the numbers from from 69 to 42, while in Yaxley and Farcet, they declined from 56 to 38.
Huntingdonshire has recorded:
- 20,726 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of November 12, 2021
- 453 cases in the five days from November 8-12, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 273 deaths by November 12 within 28 days of a positive test, the last of which was on November 8, with two on November 6 and one on November 4
- 316 deaths, as of October 29, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
Fenland
There were 285 cases in Fenland in the week to November 7, which was down 101 (26.2 per cent) on the previous week.
The infection rate of 279.2 cases per 100,000 was below the national average.
All but two areas witnessed a fall in infections. In Leverington, Gorefield and Tydd St Giles, case numbers rose from 19 to 20, and in Wisbech North, the worst affected area of the district, they increased from 41 to 45.
Fenland has recorded:
- 12,621 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of November 12, 2021
- 149 cases in the five days from November 8-12, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 236 deaths by November 12 within 28 days of a positive test, the latest of which were on November 9, 4 and 3.
- 258 deaths, as of October 29, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
Peterborough
Covid-19 case numbers fell by more than a quarter in Peterborough week-on-week.
There were 725 in the seven days to November 7, down 260 (26.4 per cent) on the previous week.
The infection rate of 357.8 cases per 100,000 people remained slightly above the national average of 350, however.
The worst affected area was Millfield and Bourges Boulevard, with 57 cases, up from 38, while Hampton Vale recorded 54 in the week, down from 79.
Peterborough has recorded:
- 32,730 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, as of November 12, 2021
- 577 cases in the five days from November 8-12, according to daily case data, which is subject to change
- 374 deaths by November 12 within 28 days of a positive test, with the latest on November 10, 9, 3 and 2.
- 412 deaths, as of October 29, in which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate
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