By Matt Jarram, Local Democracy Reporter
Covid infections in Nottinghamshire have climbed significantly over the festive period with more than 14,000 new infections recorded in the seven days before Christmas.
The number of cases across the city and county almost tripled from 864 people testing positive on December 10 to 2,555 on December 23.
Nottingham city has seen the highest number of cases over the last seven days compared with other areas across the county.
Nottingham City Council has released its surveillance report, which shows how the area has coped with the number of infections over the seven days up to December 23.
The last four days have been excluded from the data to account for a lag in cases being recorded.
Data includes lab-confirmed cases of Covid-19 from pillar one (which is NHS and Public Health labs) as well as pillar two (commercial partner labs).
Nottingham has the most Covid cases with 4,525 confirmed compared to places such as Gedling, Broxtowe and Rushcliffe which sit over the 1,000-mark.
Bassetlaw has the lowest number of cases in the county with 812.
The highest number of people in terms of percentages testing positive are in the 0-19 and 20-29 age ranges followed by the 30-39 and 40-49 age groups.
People over the age of 60 are in the lowest number of new infections.
The data, which was released on December 28, comes as the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will not be introducing any new restrictions and will review the situation in the new year.
He said the Omicron variant, which was first detected in South Africa and is more transmissible, continues to cause real concerns.
But he added the success of the vaccine booster programme had prevented further restrictions.
Speaking just before Christmas, Jonathan Gribbin, Director of Public Health in Nottinghamshire, added: “There are still more than 600 people every day testing positive for coronavirus.
“We have direct pressures on our NHS and social care system – these are widespread and substantial, and it looks like they may be set to rise further.
“There has been a sharper increase in rates among younger adults aged 18 to 22 and we are also seeing increases in rates in older adults too. The booster programme is of the utmost importance.
“I am urging people who have not had their first or second dose to do that – that offer is still there for you – and for people who have had their second dose more than three months ago to come forward really quickly for the booster dose.”
Confirmed cases over the seven days up to December 23 by Nottinghamshire area:
Ashfield: 1,365
Bassetlaw: 812
Broxtowe: 1,638
Gedling: 1,788
Mansfield: 1,163
Newark and Sherwood: 1,390
Nottingham: 4,525
Rushcliffe: 1,736
