MORE than 100 new Covid cases have seen the Isle of Wight's infection rate surpass 500 ­— well above the UK average.

Children remain the most affected, with the government heatmap showing rates among ten to 14 year olds at 3,085 as of October 1.

Yesterday, it was 2,907.3.

Peter Shreeve, assistant district secretary of the National Education Union, said: "The rise in Covid cases in schools is extremely worrying.

"Attendance in Island-maintained secondary schools was 84.9 per cent, a drop from 89.8 per cent the previous week.

"That’s the equivalent of over four and a half missing pupils in a class of thirty."

Public Health England figures released today (Wednesday) show 167 new Covid cases.

These follow yesterday's figure of 109, taking the Isle of Wight total, since the start of the pandemic, to 12,645.

The Island's rolling rate per 100,000 people, in the seven days to October 1, was 506.7.

Yesterday, in the seven days to September 30, that figure stood at 494.0.

The rolling rate is always five days behind.

There has also been a further increase in the number of Isle of Wight community Covid deaths, according to the latest government data.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures reveal two new community deaths in the last two weeks ­— both attributed to Covid-19.