West Norfolk Covid infections up nearly 70 per cent in a week, latest figures show
Coronavirus infection rates are continuing to climb rapidly in West Norfolk and other neighbouring districts, according to the latest data.
Covid-related admissions to Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital have also increased according to the latest published figures, although figures at one of the county’s other hospitals are down.
And health chiefs have also announced plans to offer booster jabs to clinically vulnerable young people in a renewed effort to reduce transmission.
The accelerating surge of Covid cases comes just days after a senior public health official urged residents to continue taking precautions against the virus.
Figures up to Friday, March 11, showed there had been 1,236 new Covid infections in West Norfolk during the latest seven-day period, up nearly 70 per cent on the previous week.
In Breckland, there were 1,047 new cases – up by nearly 72 per cent on the previous week, while North Norfolk had 594 new infections, a weekly increase of nearly 56 per cent.
No new Covid-related deaths were recorded at Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the latest update issued today.
That means the total death toll at the Gayton Road site since the start of the pandemic remains at 563.
But figures for the seven days to last Sunday, March 6, showed there had been a slight increase in Covid admissions to the QEH, with 70 patients admitted, up three on the previous week.
However, over the same period, Covid admissions to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital were down 14 to 71.
Meanwhile, booster jabs are now set to be offered to 12 to 15-year-olds who are felt to be most at risk from contracting coronavirus.
They include youngsters with underlying health issues or weakened immune systems, or those who live with people with weakened immune systems.
New research by the UK Health Security Agency claims that the booster programme has prevented more than 157,000 hospitalisations nationally.
The NHS is writing to the families of those children who are already eligible to invite them to book a booster, with more expected to follow in the coming weeks.