Residents have pointed to Sherwood's bustling high street as new government figures showed more than 120 people in the area have contracted the virus in the last week.
An interactive map shows the case rate in Sherwood North now stands at 3,216.9 per 100,000 people for the week to January 1, an increase in 123 cases. In Sherwood Vale, there have been four new cases, with a case rate of 2,046.9.
The data comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed Plan B will continue for another three weeks and no new restrictions will be brought in - and the surge has not come as a shock to residents.
Charlie Brooks, an 18-year-old student from Sherwood, said: “I’m not actually that surprised that Sherwood has the highest Covid rates because the area does get really busy.
“Sherwood is a popular area, the Covid rates in Nottingham in general are quite high and not all students are back yet so people can’t blame them.”
67-year-old Trevor Perry, who is retired and from Sherwood, said he was aware of the latest figures.
He added: “Basically over the last few years, I’ve been disappointed in people in the shops especially and those going out, lockdown has not been different for me.
“The general ignorance of people has caused Nottingham to have such high Covid rates and in Sherwood, if you go out on the weekend a lot of people are out at all the shops and bars, it’s the coffee culture in Sherwood that is a reason for cases rising.”
Jean George, 69, from Rise Park is retired and feels concerned about the way things are going and said: “Sherwood is busier than people think, It’s difficult because you can’t stay cooped up forever but people do need to be careful and use their common sense.
“Don’t go too close to people, wear a mask in crowded places and things like that which people are not doing. It’s not just people to blame, it’s the government too, it’s tricky to get hold of tests, taking time off of work isn’t an option for some but Sherwood can be heaving with people at times.”
HMP Nottingham has assured that prison outbreaks of Covid are not to blame for the high rise in the virus in Sherwood.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “We have taken precautionary measures at HMP Nottingham in line with public health guidance, and will continue to closely monitor the situation.”
The prison also confirmed there were 38 confirmed cases as of January 5 and that they were taking a number of measures to keep staff and prisoners safe.
Lucy Hubber, Director of Public Health in Nottingham, said: “Throughout the pandemic we have seen how quickly case rates across areas of the city can change so it is remains important that we all continue to do all we can to reduce the impact and take care of each other.
“Please take a rapid lateral flow test before you go out to meet with others to be confident you are Covid-free You can find the tests in our city libraries and leisure centres or you can order them here: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing .
“If you have symptoms of Covid then isolate immediately and order a PCR test. Keep isolating until to get your test results - please don’t take the risk of spreading the virus to others. You can book a PCR test here: www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test .
“The best protection is vaccination, especially when people have had two doses and a booster. The people in hospital with Covid are more likely to be unvaccinated. "
You can book a vaccination here.
