Around 90% of new Covid cases in Charnwood caused by Delta variant

Charnwood has the highest Covid-19 case rate in the county.

The rise in cases is being driven largely by younger people, who are more socially mobile and less likely to be vaccinated.

Although cases are on the rise across most parts of Leicestershire, the county council’s director of public health says he has ‘real concerns’ about the Charnwood and Blaby districts. 

Mike Sandys said: “There’s been a step increase in numbers across Leicestershire with Covid cases overall rising by around 60 per cent in the past seven days, so the rate of increase has slowed a little but the national rate is up by around 50 per cent too.

“Charnwood and Blaby are the districts causing me the most concern – and there appears to be two main factors behind this. There’s a general increase across the county as mixing has increased and at a time when the Delta variant was beginning to take a hold. We’re also aware of some specific issues related to school-age parties and gatherings.” 

Charnwood has the highest rate in the county (64.6 per 100,000 of the population), followed by:

• Blaby district (55.2 per 100,000)
• Oadby & Wigston (33.3 per 100,000)
• Harborough (33.0 per 100,000)
• Hinckley & Bosworth (31.8 per 100,000)
• Melton (29.3 per 100,000)
• North-West Leicestershire (23.2 per 100,000)

The national average stands at 40.6 per 100,000 whereas Leicestershire's rate is slightly higher at 42.6 per 100,000.

Drop-in vaccination clinics are open this week and next in Loughborough.

All adults aged 25 to 29 in England who have not yet had a Covid vaccine are now able to book their first dose.