Covid rate soars among early 30s

People in their early 30s have been found to have the highest level of coronavirus infections in Bath and North East Somerset.

According to government data, three age groups have reported a rate of over 400 people with one positive test per 100,000.

The age group with the highest number of cases was in those from 30 to 34, which saw a rate of 505.6 per 100,000 in the latest data available.

Those aged from 55 yo 59 had the second-highest rate of infections per 100,000 people in Bath and North East Somerset with a rate of 484.3.

The group with the third-highest case rate was those aged from 25 to 29, which had a rate of 439 per 100,000.

The latest data available is from the seven days prior to December 29 and individuals who tested positive more than once are only counted once, on the date of their first positive test.

Other age groups that had a high rate of cases included 60 to 64, 35 to 39 and 20 to 24 year olds.

The five to nine age group had the lowest infection rate of 56.8 per 100,000.

Dr Bruce Laurence, Bath and North East Somerset Council’s director of public health, said the cold weather, the aftermath of post-christmas socialising and the new strain has created the “perfect storm” for Covid to spread.

He also said the new strain, which is 50 to 70 per cent more infectious, is “statistically certain” to be in the region and that care homes had reported outbreaks of ten and more cases which hadn’t been seen for some time.