Covid hotspots mapped: The SEVEN regions with more than 5,000 cases last week
COVID infections continue to surge through the UK with little resistance, as the Government relies on its vaccination-based "Plan A" strategy. Data shows that sky-high weekly case totals have disguised how seven regions have disproportionately borne the brunt of the latest surge.
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The UK's Covid epidemic has progressed almost unmitigated while the Government relies on vaccines to curb deaths and cases. Over the last few months, cases have consistently topped 40,000 a day, occasionally hitting 50,000, the highest since July. Public data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that while the UK's condition appears overall dire, several regions have suffered disproportionately.
The ONS, partnered with Public Health England (PHE), has identified several regions with cases far past the national average.
These hotspots carry a heavy burden, with thousands of cases per week and some with four-figure daily increases.
All of them are in England - the most infected of all the home nations - which saw 286,011 last week.
The data shows the most infected upper-tier local authority in the UK is Hampshire, which recorded nearly 10,000 cases.
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Local trackers reported a total of 8,597, a caseload more than 1,100 infections higher than its closest neighbour, Essex.
The top seven most infected UK regions include:
- Hampshire: 8,597
- Essex: 7,464
- Kent: 6,672
- Surrey: 6,225
- Hertfordshire: 6,062
- Lancashire: 5,622
- Gloucestershire: 5,221
The caseloads in these regions show that some areas have supported more than 1,000 infections per day.
These would have followed some of the overall highest rates in the UK since summer this year.
According to the ONS, cases peaked at 52,009 on October 21, the most since they hit 54,674 on July 17.
The organisation states children have primarily fuelled the recent increase, which coincided with half term.
The percentage of positive test results among people aged seven to 11 was 9.14 percent.
The news comes as the Government prepares to administer thousands more Covid vaccines to young Britons.
More children aged 12 to 15 will have the opportunity to receive a Covid vaccine starting next week.
DON'T MISSAlthough they could start receiving the vaccine from September, the NHS will redouble efforts to boost coverage.
NHS teams plan to visit more than 800 schools offering the jab as pupils return from half term.
Children can also take advantage of the NHS booking system and schedule vaccine appointments on their own.
Figures show more than 600,000 in this age bracket have accepted the vaccine so far, and a further 140,000 have appointments booked for weeks to come.
Efforts to vaccinate younger children come as the Government anticipates an infectious winter.
As the ONS data shows, they are significant vectors for Covid transmission, which will likely explode in the next few months.
Colder weather will boost transmission as it forces people inside and near one another, especially around Christmas when children enjoy their next holiday.
In 2020, the UK saw its highest Covid peak during winter, climbing to more than 80,000 per day by December 29.