Covid cases on the rise

The number of people testing positive for Covid-19 is on the increase after a 300% rise in the south of the town.

In the seven days to Friday 26th February, a total of between 20 and 22 people tested positive for the virus, up from 16 the previous Friday. The exact figure is unknown because data for Bengeo is being supressed. This happens for privacy reasons where less than 3 people test positive over a 7 day period,

Hertford has a population of 29,439 according to the last ONS estimates, so the numbers confirmed with the virus are very small. Therefore any change can appear large given the low rates. However, figures have been falling for five weeks before the recent rise.

Other areas in the town have seen similar rises in the past but these have reversed in the days following.

One death has been recorded in East Herts over the last week. According to the COVID Sympton Study developed by King;'s College London, there are an estimated 72 cases of Covid-19 in East Herts, down 26 on a week ago.