More younger people have been testing positive for coronavirus in Nottingham in recent weeks, data shows.
According to Nottingham City Council's weekly surveillance reports, the median age of those testing positive for Covid-19 - through tests conducted at mobile sites and at home (pillar 2) - has dropped from around 38 at the start of July to 29 as of the end of September.
This shows the virus is affecting those who are younger more prevalently in the wider community than it was a few months ago.
In terms of pillar 1 testing (those done in hospitals or Public Health England labs for patients, health workers and carers), the median age has remained in the 70s since the very first report in July.
Nottingham is expected to be governed by tighter restrictions come Friday, October 9, following a surge in the number of cases.
The rate of infection is now at 440.1 per 100,000 people, with a further 235 positive tests in the space of just 24 hours to October 6.
Graphs show how median age of those testing positive has changed since July:
Week ending September 27:
Pillar 1 - 72
Pillar 2 - 29
Week ending September 20:
Pillar 1 - 73
Pillar 2 - 32
Week ending September 13:
Pillar 1 - 73
Pillar 2 - 33
Week ending September 6:
Pillar 1 - 74
Pillar 2 - 35
Week ending July 12 (first surveillance report):
Pillar 1 - 74
Pillar 2 - 38
Leader of Nottingham City Council councillor David Mellen says quite a number of the latest cases have been from people "aged between 18 and 22".
He says it is obvious universities returning has been a factor.
Speaking of the increasing number of cases in the city, Councillor Mellen said: "We expect the cases might go up further before they start to fall again. If more people are testing positive, the important thing is to encourage them to self-isolate and help us to stem the rate of infection.
"It can't keep increasing at the rate it is doing. It's a dangerous time for the city and we are all potentially at risk."
