THE Covid-19 infection rate has skyrocketed in Wyre Forest, according to the latest public health figures.

Data shows the rate of new cases in the seven days up to July 3 was 174.7 per 100,000 people - with 177 new cases recorded.

This is more than triple the amount of positive new cases recorded in the previous week up to June 26, where 56 new cases were recorded and the infection rate was 55.3 per 100,000 people.

Nearby Bromsgrove currently has the second highest Covid rate in Worcestershire and has also seen an increase in the number of positive cases.

In the latest week of data, 231 positive cases recorded, where 135 cases were recorded a week prior.

In Redditch, there were 145 new Covid cases recorded, almost triple the figure from the previous week, which was 49.

Worcester has the highest infection rate in county at 253.9 per 100,000 people.

Previously, Dr Kathryn Cobain, director of public health for Worcestershire said: “Covid-19 has not gone away. We have been doing well with our vaccination programme and I am so grateful to everyone who has come forward to have the vaccine so far. All the Covid-19 vaccines in the UK protect you from getting very poorly.

“To keep everyone safe, it is still important to keep following the hands, face, space and fresh air advice, as well as taking a rapid flow test twice a week.

“Let’s keep going, what we are doing is working, take up your vaccine join the millions already vaccinated against Covid-19 to help everyone enjoy their summer safely.”