Covid levels: Isle of Wight east side among worst in country

Earlier this week, we reported Sandown and Brading had been among the worst affected areas.

They had registered a rolling rate of 1,155.9 cases per 100,000 residents ­— the standard by which the Covid levels are measured ­— in the seven days up to December 31.

Now, in the seven days up to January 3, new data shows a rolling rate of 1,654.3 cases per 100,000 for the area, with 156 cases.

The Government's interactive map shows the Island as a whole had a rate of 941.7 as of January 3.

Several other areas have been placed into the highest level on the government's interactive map.

Joining Sandown and Brading is Cowes Central (1,090.7), Bembridge and Nettlestone (817.7), Ryde North (1,051.3), Ryde West and Havenstreet (826.1), Shanklin West and Newchurch (1,049.8), Ventnor and Wroxall (956.3), and Newport Central and Parkhurst West (860.7)

Cowes West, Gurnard and Northwood (1,068.8), Ryde South (1,186) and Shanklin Central and Lake (1,530.9) had already been placed in the same high-level category.

The lowest rate on the Island could be found in Yarmouth and Freshwater, with 274.1 per 100,000 people.

In the seven days up to December 31, Yarmouth and Freshwater had recorded 189.7 per 100,000 people.

Isle of Wight Covid cases in January.

Rate per 100,000 population in January.

According to the government's interactive map, in the worst affected areas, case numbers in the seven days up to January 3 are as follows:

• Sandown and Brading ­— 156 cases.

Rate relative to the previous week ­— 721.1 per cent increase.

• Bembridge and Nettlestone ­— 61 cases.

Rate relative to the previous week ­— 369.2 per cent increase.

• Ryde Central ­— 68 cases.

Rate relative to the previous week ­— 183.3 per cent increase.

• Ryde South ­— 104 cases.

Rate relative to the previous week ­— 395.2 per cent increase.

• Ryde West and Havenstreet ­— 65 cases.

Rate relative to the previous week ­— 195.5 per cent increase.

• Shanklin West and Newchurch ­— 83 cases.

Rate relative to the previous week ­— 418.8 per cent increase.

• Shanklin Central and Lake ­—137 cases.

Rate relative to the previous week ­— 448 per cent increase.

• Ventnor and Wroxall ­— 72 cases.

Rate relative to the previous week ­— 500 per cent increase.

• Cowes Central ­— 86 cases.

Rate relative to the previous week ­— 91.1 per cent increase.

• Cowes West, Gurnard and Northwood ­— 92 cases.

Rate relative to the previous week ­— 217.2 per cent increase.

• Newport Central and Parkhurst West ­— 70 cases.

Rate relative to the previous week ­— 233.3 per cent increase.

The Island as a whole had a rate of 941.7 as of January 3 ­— well above national average, and a 281.4 per cent increase on the previous week.

The data per 100,000 lags behind by five days, but has been rising since around December 8.

Since the pandemic began, the Island has recorded 3,473 coronavirus cases — 1,794 of those in the first eight days of January.