Covid-19 in Cambridgeshire analysed by area: Infection levels at lowest for five months - but will return of schools lead to rise?
Will the return of schools lead to an increase in Covid-19 infections?
Health authorities will be watching the data very closely to see.
In Cambridgeshire, what is clear is that infection levels had been suppressed to levels not seen since early October thanks to a combination of lockdown restrictions and the vaccination roll-out.
Below, we analyse the data in detail for every area of the county - and it shows declines for each district in the first week of March, although some neighbourhoods recorded week-on-week increases.
There are signs, however, that the second week of March will bring a rise in cases in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire.
Overall, Cambridgeshire had 335 confirmed cases in the week of March 1-7 which, encouragingly, was down 203 (37.7 per cent) on the previous seven-day period.
It took the infection rate down to 51.3 cases per 100,000, which was narrowly below the national average.
The most recent daily case data - which could still be revised - shows 284 cases in the five days from March 8-12. It means there have now been 26.574 confirmed cases in the county since the pandemic began, along with 780 deaths - including two on Friday (March 12) - within 28 days of a positive test.
That number rises to 902 if all deaths in which Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, up to February 26, are taken into account.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Peterborough continues to have one of the highest infection rates in the country, although a welcome fall was recorded in the first week of the month.
Cambridge
Cambridge had 28 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the first week of March, down 54 (65.9 per cent) on the previous seven days.
This meant the infection rate was 22.4 cases per 100,000 - the lowest it has been since September.
Only Petersfield, with four cases, up from 0-2 the previous week, recorded an increase, and many areas had 0-2 cases. Below three cases, Public Health England does not divulge the number for privacy reasons.
Daily case data, however, shows 41 cases recorded in the five days from March 8-12, although these numbers are subject to revision.
The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 5,463.
There have been no deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test in Cambridge this month - the last one was recorded on February 25. There have been 86 overall.
If all deaths mentioning Covid-19 on the death certificate are taken into account, there have been 128, as of February 26.
South Cambridgeshire
There were 39 confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Cambridgeshire for the week of March 1-7 - down 45 (53.6 per cent) on the previous week.
This took the infection level down to 24.5 cases per 100,000, well below the national average and the lowest since the end of September.
Only five areas recorded above the threshold of two cases at which Public Health England releases specific case numbers: Bar HIll and Boxworth (11), Barrington, Orwell and Gamlingay (4), Cambourne (7), Fulbourn and Teversham (3), Papworth, Caxton and Fen Drayton (5), and none of these recorded a week-on-week increase.
It means there were just nine confirmed cases scattered over the other 15 areas.
However, like Cambridge, the district has witnessed a rise in cases in the last five days, according to daily case data, which is subject to revision.
It shows 49 cases in the five days from March 8-12 - including 15 on Friday (March 12).
There have been 5,589 cases confirmed in the district since the pandemic began.
A further death within 28 days of a positive test was recorded on Friday - the sixth recorded in March. This took the total to 155 since the pandemic began - or 184 as of February 26 if all deaths mentioning Covid-19 on the death certificate are taken into account.
East Cambridgeshire
There were 24 confirmed Covid-19 cases in East Cambridgeshire from March 1-7, down 17 (41.5 per cent) week-on-week.
The infection rate was 26.7, a level not seen since early October and well below the national average.
Only three areas recorded more than two cases - Littleport (4), Soham (10) and Swaffham and Bottisham (3). Of these, only Soham was up on last week, when it recorded seven cases.
It means there were seven other cases across the rest of the district.
A further 21 cases have been recorded in the five days from March 8-13, according to daily case data, which is subject to revision.
These took the total number of cases in the district since the pandemic began to 2,887.
The last death within 28 days of a positive test was recorded on February 25, and that took the total to 92. There were 107 by February 26 in which Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
Huntingdonshire
There was a week-on-week decline in confirmed Covid-19 cases in Huntingdonshire, with 140 recorded from March 1-7, down 14 (9.1 per cent) on the previous week.
This took the infection rate to 78.7 cases per 100,000, which was above the national average.
Nine areas recorded increases: Buckden and Perry (22 cases, up from 12), Ramsey (seven cases, up from four), St Ives North (12, up from eight), St Ives South (13, up from five), St Neots Eaton Ford (three, up from 0-2), St Neots Eynesbury (11, up from nine), Stilton, Elton and Folksworth (six, up from 0-2), Warboys and Bury (six, up from four) and Yaxley and Farcet (11, up from five).
There have been 77 cases recorded in the five days from March 8-12, according to daily case data, which is subject to revision.
The total number of cases in the district since the pandemic began now stands at 7,481, while the number of deaths within 28 days of a positive test has reached 244, including one recorded on Friday (March 12) - the sixth of the month.
As of February 26, there have been 264 deaths mentioning Covid-19 on the death certificate in Huntingdonshire.
Fenland
There was a welcome drop in cases recorded in Fenland in the first week of March.
The district had 104 infections, down 72 (41.2 per cent).
However the infection rate of 102.1 cases per 100,000 people was still well above the national average.
Worst hit again was Wisbech North, with 22 cases, although this was down from 38. Next came March East, with 20, but this was down from 28. Wisbech South and Peckover, with 17 cases, down from 35, and Whittlesey, with 12 cases, down from 11, were the only other areas with cases numbers in double figures.
Only Doddington, Wimblington and Manea, with seven cases, up from four, recorded a week-on-week rise.
There have been 96 cases recorded in Fenland in the five days from March 8-12, according to daily case data, which is subject to revision.
These took the total number of cases since the pandemic began to 5,154.
There have been seven deaths so far in March within 28 days of a positive test, taking the total to 203. If all deaths mentioning Covid-19 on the death certificate by February 26 are taken into the account, the number stands at 219.
Peterborough
With 281 confirmed Covid-19 cases recorded from March 1-7, there was a decline of 78 (21.7 per cent) week-on-week in Peterborough.
But the infection rate of 138.9 cases per 100,000 remained one of the highest in the country.
And with 61 cases in Millfield and Bourges Boulevard - more than the whole of Cambridge and East Cambridgeshire combined - there was a significant hotspot of infection. This number was down just one on last week, although it was down significantly on the 111 recorded from February 15-21. Five areas recorded week-on-week increases.
Daily case data, which is subject to revision, shows 198 cases in Peterborough in the five days from March 8-12, taking the total since the pandemic began to 14,563.
There have been 333 deaths within 28 days of a positive test, including two in March so far.
If all deaths mentioning Covid-19 on the death certificate by February 26 are taken into account, that number rises to 355.
The global picture
Read more
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