Coronavirus: Cases in Dacorum increased in at-risk over-60s in week before Christmas

Coronavirus cases rose among Dacorum’s at-risk over-60s population in the run up to Christmas, government figures show.

Public Health England data shows 376.9 per 100,000 people aged 60 or over tested positive for the virus in the area in the seven days to December 23rd.

That was up from 198.2 in the seven days to December 16th.

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 the 23rd.

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