Covid-19: Concerns as Ashfield infection rate increases by 71 PER CENT

The recent statistics show that, during the the week leading up to 31 December, Ashfield recorded an infection rate of 492.5 per 100,000 people in the local authority area and Mansfield 390.6.

This means an increase of 71 per cent and 54 per cent respectively.

The increase could be down to the aftermath of Christmas Day which saw households permitted to mix in ‘bubbles of three’ on December 25.

Mansfield’s Covid-19 death toll surpasses 300

It comes as Mansfield along with the rest of the country is plunged into a third national lockdown, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning this would be the ‘hardest few weeks yet’.

Today coronavirus-related fatalities at the Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs King’s Mill Hospital, surpassed 300 after eight more people succumbed to the disease.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.