AN area of Worcester has now reached a staggeringly high new milestone in the number of Covid infections, with others now on the edge of reaching it.

Latest figures from Public Health England (PHE) show Lyppard Grange has more than 2,000 cases per 100,000 population.

The area, which covers WR4 postcodes including Millwood Drive and Trotshill Way, had a rate of 2,003.7 per 100,000 people during the seven days up to January 6 - the latest data available.

In those seven days there were a further 119 cases, a 9.2 per cent rise in the area. In comparison six weeks ago in the week up to December 2 the area had a case rate of 673.5 per 100,000.

Other areas of the city now in danger of reaching the milestone include:

  • Warndon East, which covers many WR3 and WR4 postcodes including Blackpole Road and Berkeley Way, with an infection rate of 1,956.1 per 100,000, with 123 cases in the week to January 6.
  • Ronkswood and Nunnery Wood, which covers WR5 postcodes including Newtown Road, Wildwood Drive and Silverdale Avenue, with an infection rate of 1,926.9 per 100,000 people and 125 cases that week.
  • Lower Wick and Bromwich Road, which covers WR2 postcodes and includes sections of Bransford Road and Malvern Road, with an infection rate of 1,776.2 per 100,000 people with 144 cases that week.
  • Warndon West, which covers WR4 postcodes including Cranham Drive, Chatcombe Drive and Landgale Drive, with an infection rate of 1,623.9 per 100,000 with 88 cases that week.
  • Worcester Town North, which covers WR1 postcodes that include the city centre including Castle Street, The Tything and Foregate Street, with an infection rate of 1,523.4 per 100,000 with 117 cases that week.
  • King George's Field, which covers WR3 and WR4 postcodes including parts of Tolladine Road, Brickfields Road and Blackpole Road, with an infection rate of 1,502.4 per 100,000 with 134 cases in those seven days.

The highly-infectious Omicron variant of Covid-19 quickly became the dominant strain in the city spreading rapidly before Christmas. Worcester's overall infection rate was at 1,554.9 per 100,000 with 1,559 cases recorded in the seven days to January 6.