Just two Peterborough neighbourhoods see rise in COVID cases over past week - with city seeing fewest number of new cases since early December

Of the 22 neighbourhoods in the city, only Peterborough Central and Eye & Thorney saw an increase in positive tests.

Peterborough Central saw a rise of five cases to 56, while Eye and Thorney saw three more positive tests, with 15 recorded in the week.

Peterborough Central had the highest number of cases, while North Bretton & Westwood had the highest case rate per 100,000 people with 497.7.

The biggest drop in cases was seen in Stanground, which had 29 fewer cases than the previous week, falling to 28 positive tests.

Barnack, Wittering & Wansford had both the lowest number of positive tests (eight) and the lowest case rate (117.9)

Peterborough as a whole had a total of 649 positive tests - 291 fewer than the previous week, and a case rate of 320.9.

The number of new cases in Peterborough is now at its lowest level since December. On February 2 - the latest data available - the seven day average for number of new cases was 91.6. The last time it was lower was on December 10 when it stood at 90.4. The peak was on January 5 when the seven day average was 162.3.

Government data shows the number of patients admitted to hospitals run by the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust - which includes Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke and Stamford and Rutland hospitals - is also falling.

On January 28 - the last date data is available for - the seven day average for new admissions stood at 22.6, the lowest since January 9, when the figure stood at 22. The peak was on January 23 when the figure stood at 30.4.

However, the number of people in the hospitals remains high. The seven day average on January 30 (the latest data available) was 289.6. The peak was on January 28 when the number stood at 294.4.

There are also still a high number of patients needing mechanical ventilation.

The data shows that on January 30 the figure stood at 22.1. The peak was on January 26, when the figure was 23.1.

There has been a drop in the number of daily deaths, but the figure still remains high.

On February 2 the seven day average (for deaths of people who had had a positive test result for COVID-19 and died within 28 days) stood at 2.9 - the peak was on January 27, when it stood at 4.7.

Caroline Walker, Chief Executive, for North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I can confirm that sadly, 613 patients being cared for in our Trust have passed away since we began reporting Covid-19-related deaths. There have been 188 at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and 425 at Peterborough City Hospital. All patients were aged 30 to 98 years old and the majority of those had pre-existing health conditions. We are currently caring for 228 patients with Coronavirus in our hospitals.

“Our thoughts and condolences remain with the patients’ families and loved ones at this difficult time.”

More;

Government data on number of positive tests in each neighbourhood: https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map

Government data on number of cases in Peterborough: https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/cases?areaType=ltla&areaName=Peterborough

Government data on North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust hospital statistics: https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/healthcare?areaType=nhstrust&areaName=North%20West%20Anglia%20NHS%20Foundation%20Trust

Government data on deaths in Peterborough: https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/deaths?areaType=ltla&areaName=Peterborough

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust statement on deaths and patients in their hospitals: https://www.nwangliaft.nhs.uk/about-us/trust-news/announcement-of-covid-19-deaths/