Infection rates falling across Berkshire during lockdown

In December, the county was hit by a new and more infectious strain of the coronavirus that was first detected in Kent, and this caused the number of new cases and hospital admissions to soar.

The government brought in Tier 4 restrictions and ordered people not to meet up with loved ones at Christmas, before the new year brought yet another national lockdown.

However, after six weeks of being confined to our homes, figures published by Public Health England suggest the lockdown is working in every area of Berkshire.

Reading 

A chart tracking the Covid-19 infection rate in Reading

Reading’s infection rate peaked at 811.6 cases per 100,000 people on January 8 – three days after the third national lockdown was imposed.

It has been falling since then and the latest figures show it reached 119.9 on February 13 after 194 cases were recorded over the previous seven days.

On December 30, around one in six tests conducted in Reading were coming back positive.

But by February 9, the positivity rate had dropped to 5.6 per cent, which means only around one in 18 tests were positive.

However, official figures also show Reading recorded 69 deaths between January 2 and February 5

Bracknell 

A chart tracking the Covid-19 infection rate in Bracknell

After a worrying surge in cases in December, Bracknell’s infection rate peaked at 847.8 cases per 100,000 people on January 1.

It has dropped considerably during lockdown and now stands at 107.7.

On December 30, more than one in four tests were coming back positive but by February 9, it was one in 17.

Between January 2 and February 5, Bracknell recorded 67 Covid-19 deaths.

Wokingham 

A chart tracking the Covid-19 infection rate in Wokingham

Wokingham’s seven-day infection rate peaked at 607.2 cases per 100,000 when the third national lockdown was announced on January 4.

But it has been falling since then and now stands at 76.6 cases per 100,000, after 131 cases were recorded over the previous seven days.

The latest figures show around one in 20 tests (5.1 per cent) conducted in Wokingham between February 3 and February 9 came back positive.

At the end of December, around one in five (20.2 per cent) tests were positive.

Covid-19 claimed the lives of 76 people in Wokingham between January 2 and February 5.

West Berkshire

A chart tracking the infection rate in West Berkshire

When the second national lockdown was lifted on December 2, West Berkshire’s infection rate stood at 54.3 cases per 100,000. That was one of the lowest rates in the country.

After a surge of new infections, the rate peaked at 430.4 on January 2, but it has been falling ever since and reached 99.7 on February 13.

At the end of December, around one in six tests were coming back positive, now it’s around one in 17.

The district recorded 50 Covid-19 deaths between January 2 and February 5.

Windsor and Maidenhead 

A chart tracking the Covid-19 infection rate in Windsor and Maidenhead

Windsor and Maidenhead's infection rate peaked at 733.1 cases per 100,000 people on January 4, but it has been falling rapidly since then and now stands at 87.2.

At the end of December, around one in five tests were coming back positive.

But by February 9, the positivity rate had fallen to 5.7 per cent, which means around one in 17 tests were coming back positive.

The area recorded 115 Covid-19 deaths between January 2 and February 5.

Slough 

A chart tracking the Covid-19 infection rate in Slough

Slough is the area of Berkshire that has been hit the hardest by Covid-19.

Three days after the third lockdown was imposed, its infection rate peaked at a staggering 1,184.3 cases per 100,000 people.

But lockdown appears to be working and after a dramatic drop, the infection rate reached 210.6 on February 13.

At the end of December, more than one in four Covid tests were coming back positive. Now, it’s around one in eight.

According to the figures, Slough recorded 120 Covid-19 deaths between January 2 and February 5.