Coronavirus cases in Peterborough increased in at-risk over-60s in week before Christmas

Public Health England data shows Peterborough 284.3 per 100,000 people aged 60 or over tested positive for the virus in the area in the seven days to December 23.

That was up from December 16 in the seven days to December 16.

The average infection rate among the 60 and over age group in England was 245 per 100,000 in the week to December 23, up from 177 a week earlier. That places Peterborough 92nd in the country for highest infection rates and 21st out of 44 districts in the East of England, but it has one of the lowest rates of increase in the region of 1.1.

In the East of England, the infection rate was 321, compared to 201.2 the week before.

Are people over 60 at risk?

The NHS says older people are at higher risk of developing serious illness from coronavirus.

While only those aged 70 and over are considered clinically vulnerable, the health body says over-60s are also at higher risk.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has previously revealed that coronavirus rates among the over-60s is one factor the Government considers when deciding what tier to put an area in.

It also monitors overall coronavirus infection rates, the rate of increase or decrease, and the proportion of tests conducted that come back positive.

Where are infections the highest?

Hambleton, in Rutland, saw the sharpest rise, with case rates increasing from 26 per 100,000 to 147 – a more than fivefold increase.

It was followed by the Isle of Wight and Southampton, where cases more than quadrupled, to 100 and 229 per 100,000 respectively.

However, the area with the highest infection rate among the 60 and over population was Essex’s Thurrock, with 1,011 cases per 100,000 in the week to December 23.

London and the South East dominated the rankings – of the top 20 over-60s Covid hotspots, 11 were London boroughs.