THE number of confirmed positive coronavirus tests reported in three of Somerset’s districts rose last week.
Data from the Government’s coronavirus dashboard shows increases in the number of positive tests reported in Sedgemoor, South Somerset, and Mendip.
Somerset West and Taunton, North Somerset, and Bath and North East Somerset saw week-on-week decreases in the number of confirmed positive tests reported.
In recent weeks, the number of confirmed positive coronavirus cases had fallen across the county.
21 people died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test last week (Monday, November 8 to Sunday, November 14).
This figure is down from 26 from the previous seven-day period (Monday, November 1 to Sunday, November 7).
Across the UK, the number of people who tested positive for coronavirus increased last week by 6% (14,882) compared to the previous seven-day period.
262,419 people had a confirmed positive coronavirus test result last week.
In the same period, the number of deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive test fell by 6.9% (81).
There were 1,093 recorded deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test between November 8 and November 14.
Now, health officials have said the Covid-19 vaccine booster programme is to be extended to include healthy 40 to 49-year-olds.
So far, 12.6 million people have received a third Covid-19 jab.
Government minister and Conservative Party co-chairman Oliver Dowden said the vaccination programme offers the best assurance that Covid-19 restrictions will not be required over Christmas.
He told Sky News: “It is in our hands. If you get the booster when the call comes, that is the biggest wall of defence that we have against Covid.
“I am confident that if we stick the course, people take the boosters when they are asked to do so, that vaccine wall will hold up and we will be able to have a decent Christmas this year.
“There are no plans to stop Christmas happening. The huge difference this time is the vaccine.”
Officials from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have also said that 16- and 17-year-olds should come forward for a second dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which should be given at least 12 weeks after the first.
The JCVI said the broadening of the booster campaign and the offer of a second jab to 16 and 17-year-olds will “help extend our protection into 2022”.
Here are the latest coronavirus figures from Somerset's local authority areas for postive tests, deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test, vaccinations, and case rates.
Somerset West and Taunton
Between November 8 and November 14, 522 people had a confirmed positive test result in Somerset West and Taunton.
This shows a decrease of 4.2% compared to the previous seven-day period.
Two people died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus last week.
That figure is down from six for the previous week.
Sedgemoor
568 people had a confirmed positive test result in Sedgemoor last week – a rise of 15.9% compared to the previous seven days.
Four people died in the district within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test last week.
That is one fewer death than was recorded in the previous seven-day period.
North Somerset
Last week, 857 people had a confirmed positive coronavirus test result in North Somerset.
This shows a decrease of 3.3% compared to the previous week.
Four people died in North Somerset within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test between November 8 and November 14.
This figure is up from one recorded death within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test in the previous seven-day period.
South Somerset
870 people had a confirmed positive coronavirus test result last week in South Somerset – an increase of 7.7% compared to the previous seven days.
Five people died in the district within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test last week.
This is an increase of two from the previous seven days, when three people died within 28 days of a positive test in South Somerset.
Mendip
Last week, 571 people had a confirmed positive test result last week.
This shows an increase of 2% from the previous seven days.
Two people died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test in the district last week.
This figure is three lower than the previous week, when five people died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test.
Bath and North East Somerset
998 people had a confirmed positive test result for coronavirus in Bath and North East Somerset between November 8 and November 14 - a decrease of 6% compared to the previous week.
Four deaths were recorded in the district last week.
This shows decrease of two from the previous week.
Case rates
The coronavirus case rates per 100,000 people in Somerset (409.5 per 100,000 people) remains higher than the case rate for the UK (354.9 per 100,000 people), according to the latest available data for the seven days to Tuesday, November 9.
The highest case rate is in Bath and North East Somerset at 468.5 per 100,000 people.
Somerset West and Taunton's case rate is slightly lower than the UK figure at 314 per 100,000 people.
Vaccinations
In all of Somerset's districts, over 80% of people aged 12 and over has received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccination.
Over 75% of the population aged 12 and over have been given a second dose in all of the county's local authority areas.
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