An outbreak of coronavirus at a prison in the north of Nottinghamshire has contributed to a soaring infection rate in the area.
An area covering Ranskill, Everton and Gringley in Bassetlaw currently has an infection rate of 2,101.7 cases per 100,000 people, the highest ever recorded in the county.
This comes after 167 new cases were recorded in the area in the seven days to January 20, a rise of 827.8% compared to the previous week.
The second-highest infection rate has been recorded in north Sherwood, the location of HMP Nottingham where another outbreak was reported on January 18, which has 1,104.6 cases per 100,000 people.
A Ministry of Justice prison service spokesman confirmed a number of positive cases at the prison in Retford as of January 26.
He added: "Our priority is to limit the spread of the virus and protect the lives of those who live and work in our prisons.
"In line with public health guidance, we have taken precautionary measures at HMP Ranby following positive cases and will continue to closely monitor the situation."
Nottinghamshire County Council's consultant in public health, Dawn Jenkin, said roughly one-third of all cases in Bassetlaw (of which there were 167 in the seven days to January 20) were related to an outbreak at the prison.
This increase was up by 149 cases on the previous week.
HMP Ranby holds around 1,000 adult male prisoners and is a category C prison.
It had another outbreak at the beginning of December last year which also caused a spike in cases in the north Nottinghamshire district.
Speaking about the large number of cases Ms Jenkin added: "There has been a marked increase in the number of cases in Bassetlaw, with over a third related to an outbreak at HMP Ranby, which the local authority Public Health team are aware of and is being managed through an outbreak control team.
"Aside from that, the rates within the community cases are in line with what we are seeing in the rest of the county.
"The only way to bring the rates down across Nottinghamshire is to continue to stick to all the guidance in full – to observe the hands, face and space rules and work together to stop the spread of COVID-19."
