Virus rate rises

WOKINGHAM’S coronavirus rate per 100,000 has risen this week, but it remains the lowest in Berkshire.

The latest figures for the borough showed the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases per 100,000 residents is 59, up from 54.3 last week.

There were eight positive tests recorded on Tuesday, March 3, bringing the total number of infections to 7,866.

The figures are slightly higher in neighbouring Reading borough, which has an infection rate of 79.1 per 100,000. However, this is down from 86.5 last week.

On Tuesday, Reading reported seven positive cases.

Bracknell Forest has seen its rate per 100,000 reduce substantially, too. It is now 62.8, down from 92.2 last week. On Tuesday there were three new cases.

Windsor and Maidenhead had seven cases reported that day, and its rate per 100,000 is now 61.4, down from 69.3 last week.

West Berkshire recorded four positive cases, and its infection rate has fallen to 64.4, down from 98.5 last week.

Slough remains the highest in Berkshire, but its rate per 100,000 decreased this week. It now sits at 154.4, down from last weeks’ 224. It also recorded 13 covid cases on Tuesday.

Nationally, the UK reported 6,391 positive tests on Tuesday. The rate of infection per 100,000 has now fallen below 100 at 94.9, down from 119 last week.

Sadly, 343 people died on Tuesday, within 28 days of a positive covid test. This is 1,991 over the last seven days.

By Monday, nearly 20.5 million people in the UK received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccines.

And there are 844,098 people who have received their second dose.