Chart shows frightening rate of Covid transmission

RECORD NUMBER OF NEW CASES

GRAPHS show the frightening speed coronavirus is spreading in Hull and the East Riding.

Government figures show that the rate has increased dramatically from when the pandemic first began, hitting new heights this month.

The rolling seven-day infection rate per 100,000 people – the most consistent measure of the virus’s spread – has steadily increased, as the second wave arrives in our region.

Charting the seven-day infection rates since the start of the pandemic shows the spread of the virus is more extreme than at any other point, including at the height of the lockdown earlier this year.

The latest seven-day infection rate for Hull, as of October 21, stands at 210.2. It was 114.7 on May 1, when the country was in the midst of the tightest restrictions. The actual number of confirmed cases in the seven days before October 21 was 546, compared with 298 on May 1.

And for the East Riding, the latest seven day infection rate, as of October 21, stands at 776. It was 314 on May 1.

It comes as Covid-19 patients in Hull’s hospitals have doubled in the past week – with 53 patients now being treated and eight in intensive care.

The total number of hospital deaths in our region now stands at 230 and Monday signalled the first time in a few months that the trust announced three or more deaths in one day.

It means there have now been eight deaths announced in just five days.

The worrying rise in cases has prompted the Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to bring in new measures to cope with the demand and confirmed the second wave has arrived.

New wards, extra intensive care capacity and more scientists are just some of the measures being put in place by Hull’s hospitals to cope with Covid-19 over winter.

The trust has moved to reassure the public full plans are in place at both Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital to cope with a second wave of the virus.

Three new wards have been built at the back of the tower block at Hull Royal Infirmary and will start assessing and treating patients with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 over the next few weeks once all building work has been completed.

The amount of cases in Hull have increased by 169 to 3,432, and 183 new cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the East Riding, now making a total of 4,372, Government figures showed yesterday.

This is the highest daily increase of cases for Hull and the East Riding combined since lockdown ended.

The rate per 100,000 in Hull is now at 1,321.1 and 1,281.5 in the East Riding.

Latest figures for “cases by area” for the seven days leading up to five days ago, show East Riding had 815 cases – a rate of 238.9 per 100,000. Hull had 645 – a rate of 248.3.