Latest Herefordshire Covid hotspots as 2,000 cases found in week

In the week to Thursday, March 24, a UK Government heatmap showed the areas in Herefordshire with the highest number of new Covid cases.

Cases fell in just three of Herefordshire's 23 areas compared with data from January 5.

Current coronavirus hotspots in the county, those with the highest infection rates, include:

• Leominster South
• Leominster North
• Lugwardine, Withington and Moreton-on-Lugg
• Hereford North East (areas such as Aylestone Hill, Munstone and Shelwick)
• Belmont, Madley and Clehonger

The infection rate – the number of cases per 100,000 people – for those areas were all above the UK average of 902.4.

The map breaks Herefordshire down into 23 sections known as middle super output areas.

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These are used to try and improve the reporting of small area statistics, with an average population of around 7,200 people in England and Wales.

In total, Herefordshire reported 2,061 cases in the seven days to March 24, giving it an infection rate of 1,064.5 cases per 100,000 people.

That was 392 more cases than the week before when the infection rate was 862.0. A fortnight ago it was 606.9.

The only three areas to see a fall in cases were Bromyard and Bishop's Frome, Ross-on-Wye, and Colwall, Cradley and Wellington Heath.

Seven–day rates are expressed per 100,000 population and are calculated by dividing the seven-day count by the area population and multiplying by 100,000. This helps when comparing rates across the county.

Meanwhile, Hereford's Covid testing site is closing on Wednesday as the Government ends free mass testing, Herefordshire Council confirmed.

A spokesperson said the site at Merton Meadow car park, near Hereford FC's Edgar Street ground, would close on Wednesday "in line with government guidelines".

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Those plans put forward by ministers show most people who want to be tested for Covid-19 will have to pay for tests once the universal testing programme ends on Friday.

Speaking about the Merton Meadow car park site, first set up as a mobile unit in April 2020 with help from the Army, Herefordshire Council said buildings would remain in place until June.

It is not yet known what the site will be after the buildings have been taken away.