Covid cases dip after slight rise

CORONAVIRUS cases in the Derbyshire Dales have decreased slightly in the last seven days, following a small rise we reported last week.

On a national level, cases are increasing across the country, as the nation reopens and people start mixing again - but the thousands of new cases being detected every day do not appear to be reaching Derbyshire.

In the last measurable week, up to Bank Holiday Monday, there were seven cases recorded in the Derbyshire Dales, which puts its rolling rate – measured per 100,000 population - down to just 9.7. At the same time last week it had risen to 11.1 as six new cases were detected in a week.

All areas in and around Ashbourne remain below the data threshold, suggesting the virus is suppressed.

This has been the case for many weeks now.

Some of our surrounding districts and boroughs seeing even lower rates.

Amber Valley’s rolling rate is currently at just 3.1, South Derbyshire is at 3.7 and even the city of Derby has a relatively low rate of just 11.7.

The only Derbyshire borough with an even slightly significant increase at present is High Peak, which saw 12 new are cases in the seven days up to Monday, and this puts its total number of cases up to 44 and its rolling rate to 47.5.

The problems in High Peak appear to be centred north of Glossop, on the fringes of Manchester. Ashbourne’s neighbouring wards such as Buxton and Harpur Hill remain suppressed.

Despite the relatively high rates in the north of the county, Derbyshire continues to see low figures overall.

There were just 104 cases (a decrease of 11) and a rolling rate of 13.

This maintains Derbyshire’s place as currently the safest county from the virus in the East Midlands.