Public health chiefs in Cumbria have issued a warning after a “small but concerning rise” in the number of coronavirus infections in the Carlisle area.
Data released on Friday shows there were 18 new cases per 100,000 residents in Carlisle in the week ending July 3, compared with eight new cases per 100,000 the week before.
Further data shows that from July 1 to 7 there were 21 positive coronavirus cases in Carlisle district area, when there were just an additional 10 positive coronavirus cases across the rest of the county of Cumbria.
Claire King, consultant in public health at Cumbria County Council, said: “After a steady overall decline, the rate of infection in the Carlisle area has gone up over the past week.
"The increase is not large, but it is concerning and we cannot ignore this.
“At the current time, we are a very long way from reimposing lockdown restrictions given the overall low number of cases.
"But we have to recognise how easily Covid-19 can spread and that if we see these numbers continuing to increase then restrictions may become necessary.”
A local lockdown was imposed in Leicester, which means all but essential shops had to close and pubs, restaurants and hairdressers were not allowed to reopen last weekend.
