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Nottingham now has the highest weekly rate of new Covid-19 cases in England after more than 2,200 cases were recorded in the city in one week.
A total of 2,294 new cases were registered in the seven days to October 5, the new data shows, the equivalent of 689.1 cases per 100,000 people.
It represents a huge jump from 407 new cases in the previous seven days (the week to September 28), or 122.3 per 100,000 people.
Nottingham is also well ahead of the area with the second highest rate, Knowsley, which now has 601.2 cases per 100,000 residents.
All figures are based on Public Health England data released on Thursday afternoon (October 8).
The Nottingham City Council leader said delays in the implementation of coronavirus restrictions in Nottingham are placing “an unnecessarily huge burden on local resources.”
Councilor Mellen asked the Government to “go ahead with the action ourselves.”
On Thursday, news broke that the city would know what restrictions would be imposed on Monday, prompting fears in the council that people would think the weekend “is the last chance before Christmas” to have a party.
Nottingham City Council said they were led to believe the government intended to introduce new restrictions this week until they learned of a proposal to delay until Monday.
Mr. Mellon said: “We were working to have new government restrictions imposed this week.
“While we are already urging local residents to stay in their social bubbles and not mingle with anyone outside their homes, we are very concerned about the possible implications of the government not imposing additional restrictions until next week.
“There’s a chance that this weekend people will think this is the last chance before Christmas, let’s go out and party, and we can’t have that.”
Mr. Mellon continued: “It seems that we are victims of a change in focus from the Government and therefore, although we have very high numbers that we have known about since the beginning of the week, we have to wait until next week for the government introduces what we hope will be new restrictions in Nottingham.
“We need the Government to act urgently and decisively or, better still, to give us the powers that allow us to move forward with action.
“It unnecessarily places a large burden on our local resources to manage the clear potential that people will decide to go out and socialize for the last time this weekend before local measures are introduced, which risks making a bad situation worse in terms of infection rates.
“All we can do is urge people to do the sensible thing and stay home. This deadly virus is now widespread in our city and you are putting yourself and others at risk unless you take this seriously and follow the strict guidelines in force. “
Nottingham Public Health Director Alison Challenger said there was “no need” to wait for government restrictions and urged people in the city not to mix with other households.
She said: “Our latest surveillance report released today shows that last week the number of cases in the city soared to 1,600 from just under 300 the week before.
“That’s a dramatic increase, even taking into account any data flaws, and it’s very clear that stricter measures are needed.
“We need the local population to continue to abide by existing standards, as they have overwhelmingly done so far.”
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Ms. Challenger continued: “Furthermore, we have said that due to the worrying increase in local positive cases and infections, everyone should rigidly stick to their social bubbles and not mix with other households.
“There is no need to wait for additional government restrictions; it is clear that infection rates are increasing, which means that we have to do more than we have done so far in Nottingham to stop the spread of the virus.
“We are seeing an increase in the admission of Covid patients to local hospitals, which is of great concern.”
The Department of Health and Welfare has been contacted for comment.
Follow our live updates on this developing situation here.
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