Covid-19 numbers fall in each area of Cambridgeshire - but there’s a warning against complacency
Cambridgeshire has recorded a continued and welcome fall in confirmed Covid-19 infections - but there has been a warning that infection rates remain significantly high and there is no room for complacency.
The first seven days of February brought 1,073 cases in the county still - but this was down by 287 (21.1 per cent) on the previous week as lockdown restrictions continued to have an impact.
Below, we analyse in detail how the pandemic is affecting every area of the county and you can see how your neighbourhood is faring.
For the week of February 1-7, Cambridge recorded the lowest infection rate in the county, while Fenland’s was by far the highest, and the decline there has been the slowest.
Neighbouring Peterborough, meanwhile, continues to have one of the highest cases rates in the country, although numbers did fall by more than a quarter in the first week of the month.
Dr Liz Robin, director of public health for Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, and a co-opted member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group governing body, told a meeting this week: “Although the signs are very encouraging with the fall in cases that we’re now seeing in Cambridgeshire and just recently in Peterborough, the rates still remain very high.
“I can’t emphasise that enough – compared to the summer and early autumn of last year when we were worried in Cambridgeshire about maybe 10 cases per 100,000, and 30 cases per 100,000 in Peterborough, we now face a situation where we’re looking at another level of magnitude of cases per 100,000 in our local communities.
“It’s therefore essential that we’re not becoming complacent and take our foot off the pedal, and that we continue to maintain full compliance with the lockdown rules.
“Otherwise, all the good things that have happened as a result of lockdown rules – despite it being very, very hard for people and often very stressful – it is succeeding, we can see that from the figures, and so if people can just keep going for a bit longer, that is so very important.”
A further six deaths within 28 days of a positive test were recorded in Cambridgeshire on Friday (February 12), taking the total to 695 since the pandemic began, including 59 this month alone.
Progress on the vaccination programme continues apace, however, with people aged 65-69 to be contacted from next week for their appointments.
Cambridge
The confirmed number of Covid-19 cases in Cambridge has fallen by a quarter week-on-week.
There were 145 cases in the first seven days of February, down 49 (25.3 per cent) on the previous week.
This took the infection rate to 116.2 cases per 100,000, below the national average.
However, case numbers increased slightly in three areas of the city: Coleridge, with 24 cases (up from 17) was also the worst affected. In Eddington and Castle, there were nine cases, up from four, while Petersfield had six cases, up from four.
Second worst impacted was East Barnwell and Abbey, with 18 cases, but this was half the previous week’s total.
Central and West Cambridge had 0-2 cases (Public Health England does not indicate a precise number if it is below three) - the first area of the city to do so since Arbury in the first week of December.
Cambridge’s total number of confirmed cases since the pandemic began is now 5,187, with daily case data showing a further 58 cases in the five days from February 8-12, suggesting an ongoing drop in infection rates amid lockdown.
The city recorded another Covid-19 death on Friday (February 12) - the fourth this month - taking the total to 79 within 28 days of a positive test. As of January 29, there had been 108 deaths mentioning Covid-19 on the death certificate.
South Cambridgeshire
Confirmed cases of Covid-19 also fell by more than a quarter week-on-week in South Cambridgeshire.
There were 227 cases in the first week of February, down 83 (26.8 per cent) on the previous seven days.
This took the infection rate to 142.7 cases per 100,000 people - higher than Cambridge’s, but below the national average.
Worst hit was Fulbourn and Teversham, with 22 cases, while three areas - Bassingbourn and the Mordens, Cottenham, and the Histon, Impington and Orchard Park area - all recorded 20.
Cottenham, where case numbers rose from 17 the previous week, was one of four areas to see an increase, along with Great Shelford and Stapleford (six cases, up from three), Little Shelford, Foxton and Haslingfield (10, up from six), Milton, Fen Ditton and Quy (10, up from eight) and Willingham and Over (10, up from nine).
Bar Hill and Boxworth was the first area of South Cambridgeshire to record 0-2 cases since December 7-13.
The number of confirmed cases for the district since the pandemic began now stands at 5,298, with daily case data showing a further 87 infections in the five days from February 8-12.
One more death within 28 days of a positive test was recorded on Friday, taking the total to 131, including 17 this month.
East Cambridgeshire
East Cambridgeshire recorded a drop in confirmed infections of 30.3 per cent, as case numbers fell by 47 to 108 in the first seven days of the month, compared ot the previous week.
The infection rate of 120.2 cases per 100,000 was below the national average but narrowly above Cambridge’s.
Worst affected was Soham, with 22 cases, but this was a decline from 33 the previous week.
Two areas saw an increase - Burwell, with 11 cases, up from nine, and Haddenham, Stretham and Witchford, with 20 cases, up from 15.
The total number of confirmed cases since the pandemic began is now 2,710, with daily case data showing a further 60 cases from February 8-12.
One more death within 28 days of a positive test was recorded on Friday (February 12), taking the total number to 86 since the pandemic began, including seven this month.
Huntingdonshire
Confirmed case numbers fell by a fifth week-on-week in Huntingdonshire.
There were 311 cases in the first seven days of February, down 80 (20.5 per cent), compared to the previous week.
The infection rate of 174.8 was below the national average, but the second highest in Cambridgeshire.
With 25 cases, Huntingdon Sapley and Oxmoor was the worst affected area, while Huntingdon Harford, St Ives North and Yaxley and Farcet all recorded 24.
St Neots Priory Park had four cases - the lowest number in the district.
There have now been 6,808 cases confirmed in the district since the pandemic began, with daily case numbers showing a further 168 in the five days from February 8-12 - suggesting a continued drop in infection rates.
One more coronavirus-related death was recorded on Friday (February 12), taking the total to 210 within 28 days of a positive test in Huntingdonshire, including 18 this month.
Fenland
Fenland had the highest infection rate in Cambridgeshire for the first week of February, and it was significantly above the national average.
The total of 282 cases recorded was just 28 fewer (nine per cent) than the previous week, meaning the decline in the infection rate has been significantly slower here than anywhere else in the county.
Wisbech South and Peckover continues to be worst hit, recording the same number of cases - 77 - as it did the previous week. This was the highest of any area in the county.
Also badly affected was Wisbech North with 60 cases, just three down on the previous week.
Meanwhile, Doddington, Wimblington and Manea, with 29 cases, up from 24, and Leverington, Gorefield and Tydd St Giles, with 16 cases, up from 15, recorded increases.
There have now been 4,492 confirmed cases in Fenland since the pandemic began, with a further 213 in the five days from February 8-12, indicating that the infection rate is still a concern.
Two more deaths in Fenland within 28 days of a positive test were recorded on Friday (February 12), taking the total to 180, including 13 this month.
Peterborough
Peterborough continues to have one of the highest infection rates in the country, with 300.6 cases per 100,000 people for the first week of February.
However, the good news is that the total of 608 cases recorded from February 1-7 was 229 (27.4 per cent) down on the previous week.
Of the 22 areas in Peterborough, only three recorded a week-on-week increase - Eye and Thorney (14, up from 13), Orton Malborne & Goldhay (34, up from 32) and Werrington (21, up from 10).
Worst affected, however, were Hampton Vale and Peterborough Central, recording 47 cases each.
There have now been 12,980 confirmed cases in Peterborough since the pandemic began, including 240 in the five days from February 8-12.
Two more deaths were recorded on Friday (February 12) in Peterborough, taking the total within 28 days of a positive test to 304, including 27 this month.
Read more
Tributes to kind-hearted Cottenham firefighter Danny Granger after he dies from Covid-19
Cambridge imam says Covid-19 vaccine myths have nothing to do with Islam
ReCoVa-19 supports Oxford trial designed to keep over-65s with Covid-19 out of hospital
Latest Cambridge large-scale Covid-19 vaccination centre opens at Chesterton Bowls Club
Sign up for our weekly newsletter and stay up to date
