Peterborough and Cambs Covid rates increase over Christmas period as more patients die at city hospital

In the week up to December 29 there were 871 cases which saw the rolling rate increase to 430.6 per 100,000 population, compared to 403.4 in the week leading up to Christmas Eve.

The rising infection rate comes amid Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning that more stringent restrictions are likely to be implemented in the near future.

Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire are all currently in Tier 4 - the highest tier possible.

Moreover, another eight patients with coronavirus have died at Peterborough City Hospital.

The number of confirmed deaths was 272 on New Year’s Eve but has now risen to 280.

In addition, the number of Covid patients being treated at the hospital in Bretton, as well as Hinchingbrooke Hospital, both of which are run by the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, has risen by 20 to 181.

Trust chief executive Caroline Walker said: “I can confirm that, sadly, 402 patients being cared for in our trust have passed away since we began reporting Covid-19-related deaths.

“There have been 122 at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and 280 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 181 patients with coronavirus in our hospitals.

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

Cambridgeshire has seen a 63.3 per cent rise in Covid-19 infections over the week leading up to December 29 with 2,440 positive cases.

The rolling rate is now around the UK average at 373.4.

In the county, Fenland had 302 positive cases, a rise of 36 per cent with a rolling rate of 296.5.

Huntingdonshire had 685 positive cases, a rise of 100.9 per cent, with a rolling rate of 384.9.

South Kesteven had 508 positive cases, a rise of 16.5 per cent, with a rolling rate of 356.7.

Moreover, South Holland had 235 positive cases, a rise of 11.4 per cent, with a rolling rate of 247.3.