500 new virus cases recorded over weekend
RATES FALLING BUT CITY ACCOUNTS FOR HALF OF THE LATEST REPORTED INFECTIONS
MORE than 500 new coronavirus infections have been confirmed across Leicester and Leicestershire.
Department of Health and Social Care figures showed a total of 543 new cases on Saturday and Sunday.
The city registered the highest number of new cases, with 241.
There were 66 new cases in Charnwood and 58 in Blaby district.
All other parts of the county registered fewer than 50 new cases as infections continued to fall.
At the weekend there were 46 new cases in North West Leicestershire, 45 in Oadby and Wigston, 32 in Harborough and 30 in Hinckley and Bosworth.
Melton recorded 25 cases over the two days.
Despite the falling rates of infection, the city and the entire county will enter into Tier 3 with the toughest restrictions to try to halt the spread of the virus when the national lockdown ends on Wednesday.
The new cases totals were updated at 4pm yesterday.
The first review of the new tier system will take place on December 16, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying it is possible some areas under the tightest restrictions could have measures eased if infection rates have fallen sufficiently and the degree of local pressure on the NHS allows it.
North West Leicestershire Tory MP Andrew Bridgen has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock asking for assurances that his constituency can be “de-coupled” from Leicester when the review takes place.
He said he was concerned higher rates of infection in the city would count against his area when the assessments are reviewed.
The Mercury uses the gov.uk daily dashboard to track and report cases and rates.