THERE have been significant rises in the weekly rate of COVID-19 across Worcestershire, with Worcester’s rate almost doubling in a week.

The latest Public Health England (PHE) figures show Worcester had, during the week up to October 2, an infection rate of 66.2 cases per 100,000 people, up from 34.6 the week before.

In the past, areas have seen local restrictions when cases were around 70 and higher, with some reaching that level being placed on the government’s watchlist.

Bromsgrove has seen the biggest jump up to 84.1 per 100,000 from 37 the week before.

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That led Worcestershire County Council to put out a statement on Monday, with the director for public health in Worcestershire, Dr Kathryn Cobain, appealing for Bromsgrove residents to follow social distancing rules to help reduce the rapidly rising infection rate.

In the statement Dr Cobain said: “I am extremely concerned to see the infection rate taking off as it has in Bromsgrove. This is the clearest indication yet, that some people are not following the rules.

“The rate is significantly high enough to potentially see the district added to the Government’s watch list which could result in further measures being introduced.

“We don’t want to see that happen.”

The PHE figures are based on tests that have been carried out both in laboratories and in the wider community, and provide the data for each local authority area.

Elsewhere Wychavon’s rate doubled and is now at 61, from 29.4 the week before and Malvern Hills has reached 50.8, up from 26.7.

Redditch saw no change staying at 44.6, while Wyre Forest saw a drop to 45.4 from 55.3.