Covid cases are spiking again in Worcestershire.

According to the latest data, there are more Covid cases in county hospitals than at any point since April.

As of Tuesday, July 5, there were 117 positive cases in hospitals run by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

This includes Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester, the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and Kidderminster Hospital.

Figures from Worcestershire County Council show Covid cases at those three hospitals had been steadily falling since mid-April, but are now climbing again.

READ MORE: New £8m unit opens to ease pressure on emergency care at Worcestershire Royal Hospital

The number of positive cases reported in Worcestershire has also been rising in the past few weeks after decreasing week-on-week throughout April and May.

Latest figures show there were 1,491 positive cases in the county on July 1, compared to 293 on June 1.

Cases rose by 16% in Worcestershire in the seven days to July 1. The council’s figures suggest the spike is even greater in other parts of the country, with cases in the West Midlands going up 22% over the same period and the figure for England rising by 27%.

Mask wearing not required at hospitals

There are currently no Government-mandated restrictions in place to reduce the spread of Covid.

Advice from the UK Health Security Agency, the Government department that has replaced Public Health England, remains to get vaccinated, practice good hygiene, let fresh air in if you’re meeting others indoors and to wear a mask if you so wish.

Isolating is no longer mandatory if you do test positive for Covid, but the advice is to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust relaxed its guidance on mask wearing at its hospitals last month following a change in the national guidelines.

But visitors have been told they are still welcome to wear one if they prefer.

And a hairdresser in Pershore has this week reintroduced mask wearing at their salon.

We reported earlier this week that customers at Hairatage in the Royal Arcade were being asked to mask-up again “due to the high rise of Covid cases in our area”.