The rate of coronavirus infection has fallen slightly in Suffolk – with the west of the county recording the most positive cases.
Public Health England figures out on Wednesday reveal 70 people tested positive for Covid-19 in the county during the seven days to Sunday, September 13.
That is equivalent to 9.1 cases per 100,000 people, and remains among the lowest in the country.
The numbers are slightly down from 72 cases the previous week, and an infection rate of 9.4 cases per 100,000 people.
With 587 new cases and an infection rate of 204.1 per 100,000 people, Bolton is currently the worst-hit area of England.
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More than 40% of the latest weekly cases were in West Suffolk, which recorded 30 positive tests in that time frame, with a rate of 16.7 cases per 100,000 people.
That is compared with 28 cases and a rate of 15.6 the previous week.
On September 8, the district hit 20 infections per 100,000 people.
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Stuart Keeble, Suffolk’s public health director, said the increase in West Suffolk is partly down to the nine positive cases identified in teaching staff at Samuel Ward Academy in Haverhill.
His team has also identified “ongoing household transmission” from those cases.
Some of the other cases identified in the district have been linked to care home staff, he said, and all homes affected are being supported to manage these cases.
Mr Keeble said: “While we recognise that cases in Suffolk are increasing, particularly in the west, case numbers do still remain low compared to England. However, the changing picture means we cannot be complacent about this.”
He added that all cases identified in the county are regularly reviewed by the team so they can act to address any patterns of transmission and identify particular areas where cases are increasing.
This will help them to track and trace contacts of those who have come into contact with infected people.
Source: https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/suffolk-coronavirus-infection-rates-revealed-1-6842080