Covid-19 confirmed cases drop by 40 percent in Northampton over two-week period

The number of positive tests for Covid-19 in Northampton has slowed in the last two weeks, according to new figures.

The latest figures, compiled up to Saturday (June 6), revealed 55 people tested positive for coronavirus between May 23 and June 6. That equates to around 24 new cases per 100,000 of the population.

Previous figures showed 77 new cases in the two weeks up to May 23 and just over 34 new infections per 100,000 population.

The latest figures were produced by the data team of JPIMedia, owners of the Chronicle & Echo.

East Northants had around 30 new cases per 100,000; Kettering had 22; Daventry had 16 and Wellingborough 41st had 11.5.

South Northamptonshire has around ten new infections per 100,000 people while Corby is the least infected area of the county with less than nine fresh positive tests per 100,000.

Monitoring the number of new infections plays an important part in measuring the 'R' number — the reproduction rate of the virus. Keeping the 'R' number below one has been central to the Government easing lockdown restrictions in the last two weeks.

But officials also unveiled plans for “local lockdowns” in the next phase of the fight against the pandemic.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said measures had since been put in place to dampen localised outbreaks — such as in Somerset where Weston General Hospital has been closed to new patients to control the spread of the virus among patients and staff.

Mr Hancock said it would be “increasingly important” to monitor data at local levels and then take action, a job which would fall to the new Joint Biosecurity Centre.

He said: “We need to get more granular and more focused and find the source of the local outbreak and then deal with it.”

Ashford, in Kent, is currently England's biggest Covid-19 hotspot with more than 63 new infections per 100,000 people.

Neighbouring areas Bedford and Peterborough are both among the top five areas. Milton Keynes had just four new cases in two weeks.

The study placed Northampton 58th in the country for new infections.

Eight areas — Teignbridge, Woking, Chichester, Torridge, West Devon and North Devon — all reported no new cases.