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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
National
Claire Miller & Gemma Toulson

True extent of coronavirus cases in Nottingham revealed to be 12 times higher than previously reported

Coronavirus cases in Nottingham are 12 times higher than previously reported.

New Covid-19 rates published by Public Health England show 10.6 cases per 100,000 people in Nottingham in the week to June 21.

That would be the equivalent of 35 people in the area testing positive in that week.

Previously published figures suggested three cases had been found in the city during that time.

The rate in Nottinghamshire was 12.6 cases per 100,000.

That would be the equivalent of 104 cases, rather than the 20 that has been previously reported.

The new figures are based on people being tested both through Pillar 1 (in hospitals) and Pillar 2 (through drive-through test centres and swabs sent by post).

Until today, only Pillar 1 figures have been published at a local level.

The figures show Leicester had the highest rate of cases in the UK, at 140.2 per 100,000 people - around 497 new cases.

The previously released Pillar 1 data had suggested just 33 cases in the city.

With Leicester going back into lockdown this week, local health officials have been pushing for the government to release more broken down data

Officials in Greater Manchester said they had been asking the Government to release the data for two months, and when they received it found the number of positive Pillar 1 cases was 78 but overall numbers jumped to 465 when combined with the Pillar 2 data.

At his weekly coronavirus press conference, mayor Andy Burnham said: “It represents a significant number of new cases and while the overall numbers are coming down and transmission is reducing, nevertheless there is still a significant amount of Covid-19 circulating within Greater Manchester. For the first time we are seeing the true picture."

The BMA had also urged the Government to share more information.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chairman of the BMA Council, said: “The Prime Minister has talked about a ‘whack a mole’ strategy to tackle local outbreaks, but this is no use if the people leading the response on the ground – be they public health teams or local leaders – are not given the most accurate up-to-date data possible.

“This is crucial to allow swift action and to protect lives and the health service, and something that is not happening right now.

“This is all the more important given that the ‘world leading’ test and trace app is not in place, meaning local leaders and teams armed with up-to-date information will be vital in containing spread of outbreaks.”

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