THE number of Covid-19 cases in a Sussex town has tripled in just seven days.
Hastings recorded the second greatest increase in its weekly coronavirus rate of all the local authority areas in England.
- READ MORE: Sussex health chief 'worried' after area's coronavirus cases soar ahead of review of Tier 2 status next week
In the seven days leading up to November 28, there were 65 confirmed cases of the virus in the town, giving it a weekly rate of 70.1 new cases per 100,000 people.
But in the most recent figures covering the seven days leading up to December 5, there were 185 new cases in Hastings, giving the town a rate of 199.7 cases per 100,000 people.
This meant the town was second only to Basildon in terms of week-on-week increases in local authority areas across England.
The Essex town's rate rose from 302.9 to 433.8, with 812 new cases in the week leading up to December 5.
There was also a significant increase in the number of coronavirus cases recorded in Rother during this period.
In total, 160 people in the area tested positive for Covid-19 in the week leading up to December 5, giving a rate of 166.5 new cases per 100,000 people.
This was up from 112 cases, and a rate of 116.6, the week before.
Speaking at an East Sussex County Council cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the authority’s director of public health Darrell Gale issued a warning regarding the latest data.
He said: "This is of quite a concern because all of these cases will have become infected during the last weeks of lockdown.
"These are cases that have come in with symptoms last week and generally it takes five to eight days for symptoms to develop from infection.
“We’ve also had a look at some data from the [track and trace] app, which isn’t published data but shows that Hastings in particular is a place where cases who are identified have more contacts than in other areas.
“That is not to say they are contacting those people after they have been infected, although it is probably during the period of infectivity that they have contacted a larger number of people than other areas of social context.”
Mr Gale said many of the new cases in Hastings were among people aged 10 to 19, particularly males, and were connected to outbreaks in schools.
However, there were also increases in other age bands, particularly women aged 30 to 59.
In Rother, the vast majority of cases had been among people aged 50 to 59 and included care home staff.
Although there were also infections among people aged 80 to 89 and those over 90.
Cases were also seen in those of school age.
An East Sussex County Cpouncil spokesman said: "Playing your part is more important now than ever.
"Remember, Hands. Face. Space. Avoid crowded places wherever possible, meet outside if you can and limit your social contacts."
Following this sudden upsurge, a mobile testing unit will be operating in Hastings today and tomorrow.
"A council spokesman said: "Test slots for each day will be available to book from 6pm the evening before, once you have an appointment you will be given details on how to safely arrive at the site.
"Once you have completed the test, you must go straight home and self-isolate.
"The number of people in East Sussex with Covid-19 is increasing rapidly.
"Anyone with symptoms, no matter how mild, should self-isolate and book a test."
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