THE number of new coronavirus cases recorded in Worcestershire has started to rise again according to the latest figures.

Public Health England said 1,462 cases of coronavirus were recorded in the county in the week up to August 8 – a rise of almost three per cent compared to the week before.

The number of cases has mainly risen in the north of the county particularly in Redditch where the number of cases increased by more than a fifth in a week.

A total of 261 cases were recorded in the week in Redditch – a rise of 21 per cent – whilst cases increased by 13 per cent in Bromsgrove to 299 and eight per cent in Wyre Forest to 271.

The number of cases recorded in Worcester fell slightly to 248 in the same week and the number of cases recorded in Wychavon, which includes Evesham, Pershore and Droitwich, fell by 18 per cent compared to the week before to 271.

Cases increased slightly in Malvern Hills to 112 for the week.

NHS figures show 40 people are currently in hospital in Worcestershire with Covid including four people on a ventilator.

The latest figures show 1,366 people have now died from Covid in Worcestershire where the virus was mentioned on the death certificate including 204 people from Worcester.

A total of 144 people from Malvern Hills, 279 people from Wychavon and 277 people from Wyre Forest have also died from Covid. 269 people from Bromsgrove and 193 people from Redditch have also died.

More than three quarters of the county has now been vaccinated with two doses of a Covid vaccine according to NHS England.

A total of 387,128 people in Worcestershire have now received two jabs – around 76 per cent – compared to the 439,212 people – around 86 per cent – who have received at least one dose.

More people in Worcester have received at least one dose where uptake currently stands at just under 83 per cent compared to the 60,006 people – around 69 per cent – that have received both doses of a Covid vaccine.