Covid infection rates are continuing to rise across Nottingham as a sub-variant of Omicron surges throughout the country. Many areas of the city have seen a weekly increase of more than 100 percent, with some reaching above 200 percent.
The increase is thought to be due to the Omicron sub-variant, called BA.2 and known as 'stealth variant', which is highly transmissible. It also follows the lifting of restrictions across the UK.
The ONS infection survey, which tests thousands of people randomly in households across the UK, estimates 3.3 million people would have tested positive in the week ending 12 March - up from 2.6 million the previous week.
Read more: Surge in Nottinghamshire Covid infections a concern, says hospital boss
In Nottingham, 1,451 cases were recorded in the seven days up to March 13 - the most recent available government data. This is a 64.3 percent increase on the previous week.
Aspley has seen the sharpest rise in cases during that period - rising by 28 to 40, equating to a 233.3 per cent increase. Bilborough North is second highest with 215.4 percent, Basford Park Lane is third with 200 percent.
The rise in community infections also appears to have translated into hospitals. In the seven days leading up to March 13, 106 people were admitted to Nottingham hospitals with Covid or tested positive for the virus following admission.
However, it is unclear how many patients are being treated for Covid and how many are in hospital for another reason. It is a steady increase compared to the same period in February, where 83 patients were admitted. There were 86 admissions from February 28 to March 6.
The amount of people in critical care with Covid remains low, with just two taking up beds across Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital on March 15.
The 10 areas of Nottingham where cases are rising fastest
(Area/ total cases/ weekly increase/ case rate per 100,000 people)
Aspley - 40 - 233.3% - 439.5
Bilborough North - 41 - 215.4% - 595.9
Basford Park Lane - 45 - 200.0% - 521.4
Wollaton Park - 34 - 188.9% - 737.6
North Sherwood - 77 - 165.5% - 927.7
Gedling North - 47 - 161.1% - 574.5
Bulwell West - 35 - 134.6% - 696.8
Sherwood Vale - 60 - 130.8% - 772.4
Highbury Vale - 76 - 130.3% - 1,001.6
Meadows - 36 - 111.8% - 457.8
Nottingham (overall) - 1451 - 64.3% - 430.4
