The number of Covid-19 infections in West Berkshire surged in December and public health experts believe the new variant of the virus has played “a significant part in the rise”.

The latest figures show 1,872 people in West Berkshire tested positive for the virus in that month.

That means more than 50 per cent of the confirmed cases in the district have been recorded since the second national lockdown was lifted on December 2.

When that lockdown ended, West Berkshire had one of the lowest seven-day infection rates (54.9 cases per 100,000) in the country.

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By December 30, the infection rate had increased by 587 per cent and reached 377.4 cases per 100,000.

“It’s probably one of the worst positions we’ve been in during the pandemic but bear in mind we obviously didn’t have as much testing available in the first part of the pandemic,” said Matthew Pearce, head of Public Health for West Berkshire Council.

“Clearly this new variant of Covid is playing a significant part in this rise.”

 

He added: “We’ve also had quite a significant jump in the positivity rate in West Berkshire.

“Our positivity rate is around 16.2 per cent now. Around one in six who are turning up to be tested are testing positive.

“If we go back to the beginning of December, that rate was around 3.9 per cent.”

There has also been a worrying increase in local hospital admissions.

At the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Covid-19 patients were occupying 59 beds on December 19. By December 30, that number had reached 179.

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The hospital has postponed all non-urgent operations while staff deal with the influx of Covid patients.

However, the NHS has begun vaccinating over 80s, and health and social care workers in Berkshire. It is also planning to open a vaccination centre for the public at Newbury Racecourse next week.

Tier 4 restrictions were imposed on West Berkshire on December 20 to try and curb the rapid spread of the virus, but public health experts have questioned the effectiveness of those restrictions.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a third national lockdown on Monday, December 4.