Covid cases across Cumbria have risen over 40 per cent according to the latest UK government figures.

Both Copeland and Allerdale saw cases rise by over 44 per cent in the seven days leading up to Saturday, December 17, whilst Carlisle saw cases rise by 16.9 per cent over the same period.

Cases have been low across the region for the last two months but have begun to rise as more people socialise in the run up to Christmas.

Experts have said that the number of covid cases is likely to be higher due to the lack of community testing after the government dropped free testing earlier this year.

This year is the first Christmas the UK has faced in 2019 without serious Covid disruption, after lockdowns in 2020 and a severe wave of the virus last year.

Cases of flu have also been on the rise nationally and health bosses have urged people to be cautious over Christmas.

Health officials at the UKHSA have urged people to stay at home over the festive period if they feel unwell to prevent the spread of potentially serious illnesses.

“Both Covid and flu can cause severe illness or even death for those most vulnerable in our communities, and so it is also important to avoid contact with other people if you are unwell in order to help stop infections spreading over the Christmas and new year period” Dr Mary Ramsay, the director of public health programmes at UKHSA said.

A further five people died with the virus across Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland according to figures from the UK Government.

These latest figures mean that 1,207 people have sadly died in the region with Covid since the pandemic began in March 2020.

North Cumbria Integrated Care Trust was caring for 58 coronavirus patients in hospital as of Tuesday, figures show.

NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on December 21 was down from 63 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 increased by 14% in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 51.

The figures also show that 52 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust in the week to December 19. This was up from 41 in the previous seven days.

 

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