Derbyshire Covid infection rates falling but still remain high

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The number of new Covid-19 infections in Derbyshire are now consistently falling, but are still extremely high – particularly in the city

Two weeks into the nation’s third lockdown, infection rates are starting to fall on a regular basis.

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In the most recent week of Government data, to January 14, Derbyshire saw nearly 400 fewer weekly cases than during the county’s peak, the week to January 4, when it saw 5,022 new confirmed cases.

This is a small drop (seven per cent) and the county is still seeing thousands of new cases every seven days.

New cases of Covid infections are slowly starting to fall in DerbyshireNew cases of Covid infections are slowly starting to fall in Derbyshire
New cases of Covid infections are slowly starting to fall in Derbyshire

It has an extremely long way to go before local officials deem levels manageable and it is likely that the most intense restrictions are still required for weeks to come.

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However, the drop in rates does present a welcome end to an ominous continuous increase over the festive period and into the new year in which the county and city were breaking pandemic records on a regular basis.

While rates are dropping, the county is still seeing three times as many new Covid-19 cases each week as it was at the start of December. In the week to December it saw 1,488 cases.

Rates of new infections in Erewash are not yet falling on a consistent basis, with the borough now having the highest rate among Derbyshire boroughs and districts at 441 per 100,000 people.

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The run up to Christmas through to new year saw infection rates skyrocket, with almost four times as many cases in some areas of the county and Derbyshire areas surging to become many of the highest rates in the East Midlands.

The county’s daily rate of new cases fluctuates more naturally, but this now appears to be down by at least a few hundred cases from its peak, on January 4, of 994 new cases in one day.

Derby continues to keep the county’s case rate and case numbers far higher, offsetting much of the reductions seen in the districts and boroughs.

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The city has a far higher infection rate than East Midlands neighbours Nottingham and Leicester and its fall in cases, while now consistent, is extremely slight.

In the most recent data, the week to January 14, Derby saw 1,688 cases – just 60 down from its peak of 1,745 cases in the week to January 8.

For context, in the first week of December, Derby saw 418 new cases – less than a third of the amount it currently has.

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Derby itself is seeing more cases each week than the entire of Derbyshire saw during the whole of September.

Local officials are urging residents to abide by the key guidelines of social distancing of two metres or more, consistent good hand hygiene and wearing face coverings.

They have stressed that while the Covid vaccines are being rolled out at pace, adherence to basic guidelines and all other lockdown rules is essential.

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Here are the Covid-19 case rates per 100,000 people for each area of Derbyshire in the week to January 14: Amber Valley: 433 cases per 100,000 people, 555 new cases; Bolsover: 422, 340; Chesterfield: 409, 430; Derbyshire Dales: 237, 172; Derby: 656, 1,688; Erewash 517, 441; High Peak: 300, 278; North East Derbyshire: 316, 321; South Derbyshire: 363, 389.