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The head of public health in Nottingham says there are “many reasons” for the increase in Covid-19 cases across the city.
However, she “cannot fully explain” why the number of cases increased “so suddenly”.
Alison Challenger, Nottingham’s director of public health, says that increased testing, “rapid” spread among students, and increased mixing in homes have led to this increase in cases.
It has moved Nottingham up the rankings and become the area in England with the most active cases of the virus by population.
Figures show that the city’s rate per 100,000 residents has risen to 750 cases per 100,000 residents, according to data released Friday.
Figures from Nottingham City Council’s weekly Covid-19 surveillance report also show that the median age of infected people now stands at around 21.
It follows huge waves of cases between densely populated student neighborhoods, including Lenton, Radford, The Park, and The Arboretum.
The University of Nottingham confirmed earlier this week that more than 400 cases have been recorded as part of its internal testing regime.
Nottingham Trent University has also recorded positive cases, however it does not reveal exactly how many students have contracted the virus.
Speaking about the increase, Ms Challenger says the virus is “spreading quite rapidly” among student communities, particularly within shared homes.
However, she says there is “no singular reason” for the sudden influx of cases in general.
“It’s been a sudden spike, rates were still high last week and rising, but we know we have a background of rising rates,” he told Nottinghamshire Live.
“These past seven days have made a dramatic difference for us and there will be many reasons, not just one reason, for this.
(Image: Joseph Raynor / Nottingham Post)
“We have higher rates of spread, we have more tests available, so we are detecting more of what is already in the population.
“We also know that it is spreading quite rapidly among our young population, but particularly where students live and socialize together.
“So of course it will be in those areas where there is more mixing between households and it is not a single reason why we have this peak.
“[On] The suddenness of that rate increase, I think we still can’t fully account for that and it’s possible that all the cases have come in and there has been a delay.
“But the bottom line is that the cases are high and the number is what the number is.
“That’s why we need people to be active on that now, so that we can try to stop that increase even more.”
Ms Challenger’s words come as Nottingham and the county of Nottinghamshire in general brace for tougher Covid-19 restrictions next week.
Mark Spencer, Sherwood MP and head of government whip, told Nottinghamshire Live on Friday that the measures will go into effect “100 percent” by midweek and will be stricter than current guidance.
However, a Nottingham MP has accused the government of “abandoning” the city by waiting a week to enforce the rules.
The delay means that even though Nottingham has the highest rate in the country, it is the only local authority in the five worst affected areas nationally that is not under a form of local restriction.
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