Number of people testing positive for Covid-19 in Harborough rises by 75 per cent in seven days

The number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in Harborough spiralled by 75 per cent in the seven days to Sunday January 3.

Some 411 people tested positive, the latest figures show, as the virus crisis continues to escalate locally as well as nationally.

The coronavirus infection rate in Harborough is now 340.1 cases per 100,000, the second highest in Leicestershire after Oadby and Wigston.

But that’s still well below the latest national average for England of 476 cases per 100,000.

Over 50,000 coronavirus cases have now been recorded across Leicester and Leicestershire since the pandemic broke out last spring.

The latest seven-day infection rates, area by area, and total cases, are:

- Oadby and Wigston: 391.1 cases per 100,000 people (223 cases in the last seven days)

- Harborough: 340.1 cases per 100,000 people (411 cases in the last seven days)

- Blaby: 291.6 cases per 100,000 people (296)

- Melton: 267.5 cases per 100,000 people (137)

- North West Leicestershire: 252.9 cases per 100,000 people (262)

- Hinckley and Bosworth: 238.7 cases per 100,000 people (270)

- England Average: 476.9 cases per 100,000 people (268,433).