Infection rates remain high in all areas that border Berkshire as England braces itself to learn which tier they will be in.
Since the end of the nationwide lockdown on December 2, coronavirus infection rates have trended upwards in Berkshire. They have also risen in virtually every area that borders our county as well.
The only area that has seen a decrease in infection rates is Runnymede, in Surrey, which borders Windsor and Maidenhead.
However, Runnymede still has an infection rate of 220.2, which is higher than the rate in Wokingham, West Berkshire and the Royal Borough pf Windsor and Maidenhead.
The figures come amid the possibility that more areas could be put into the toughest tier 3 restrictions as infection rates continue to rise.
A leading microbiologist at the University of Reading has already predicted that Berkshire and the south-east will be put into tier 3 in the New Year.
London and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire were all put into tier 3 on Wednesday, December 16, following an announcement by health secretary Matt Hancock on Monday, December 14.
Hundreds of people tested positive in the week leading to December 11 in the closest London boroughs to Berkshire. In Hounslow, 676 people tested positive, and 752 people tested positive in Hillingdon in that period.
At present, Slough is the only area of Berkshire that is in tier 3.
BerkshireLive has based the infection rate trend on comparing figures in the seven days leading to December 11 to the seven days leading to December 4.
See how each area which borders Berkshire is faring below:
Put your postcode in below to see how many coronavirus cases there have been in your area
South Bucks
South Bucks, which includes Beaconsfield, Burnham, Taplow and Iver Heath, borders Slough and the Royal Borough of Windsor Maidenhead.
Tier: 2
Infection rate in seven days to December 11: 181.3
Number of cases in seven days to December 11: 127
Infection rate in seven days to December 4: 134.2
Number of cases in seven days to December 4: 94
There are worries that the whole of Buckinghamshire could be put into tier 3 when area tiers are reviewed on December 16.
The leader of Buckinghamshire Council, Councillor Martin Tett, spoke about the possibility and urged youngsters "who think they’re invulnerable" to consider their more vulnerable relatives.
Cllr Tett said that while he is "well aware" of what tougher restrictions could mean for the economy in Buckinghamshire, he is also concerned about the "extreme pressure" on local health services.
He said: "If the infection rates continue to rise after Christmas there could be a really serious situation in the local NHS."
Wycombe
Wycombe borders the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, South Bucks and South Oxfordshire.
Tier: 2
Infection rate in seven days to December 11: 210.1
Number of cases in seven days to December 11: 367
Infection rate in seven days to December 4: 150.0
Number of cases in seven days to December 4: 262
Wycombe comes under Buckinghamshire Council.
Runnymede
Runnymede sits to the south of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, it includes Englefield Green, Virginia Water, Chertsey and Egham.
Tier: 2
Infection rate in seven days to December 11: 200.2
Number of cases in seven days to December 11: 179
Infection rate in seven days to December 4: 290.7
Number of cases in seven days to December 4: 260
Swindon
Swindon borders West Berkshire.
Tier: 2
Infection rate in seven days to December 11: 115.2
Number of cases in seven days to December 11: 256
Infection rate in seven days to December 4: 115.7
Number of cases in seven days to December 4: 257
In Swindon, Steve Maddern, the borough's director of Public Health, addressed rumours the town could be put into tier 3 and went on to predict Swindon would remain in tier 2.
Mr Maddern said: "Our Covid-19 case rate has been steadily falling since reaching a peak four weeks ago, so we were surprised to read in the national media that Swindon is at risk of moving into tier 3.
He added: "At this moment in time, we are not anticipating that we will move into tier 3 later this week, but we would encourage local residents to keep following the public health guidance to ensure we maintain the downward trajectory in our case rate so we are not at greater risk of moving up the tier system."
Vale of White Horse
The Vale of White Horse, has a border with West Berkshire and includes Abingdon, Wantage and Faringdon.
Tier: 2
Infection rate in seven days to December 11: 94.1
Number of cases in seven days to December 11: 128
Infection rate in seven days to December 4: 66.9
Number of cases in seven days to December 4: 91
South Oxfordshire
South Oxfordshire borders Reading and includes a number of its satellite villages, including Sonning Common, Goring and Woodcote. Henley also falls into the district.
Tier: 2
Infection rate in seven days to December 11: 116.2
Number of cases in seven days to December 11: 165
Infection rate in seven days to December 4: 76.0
Number of cases in seven days to December 4: 108
Surrey Heath
Surrey Heath borders Bracknell Forest and Windsor and Maidenhead.
Tier: 2
Infection rate in seven days to December 11: 226.2
Number of cases in seven days to December 11: 202
Infection rate in seven days to December 4: 137.7
Number of cases in seven days to December 4: 123
Basingstoke & Deane
Basingstoke and Deane is south of Newbury and West Berkshire and it also neighbours Wokingham and Reading boroughs.
Tier: 2
Infection rate in seven days to December 11: 102.5
Number of cases in seven days to December 11: 181
Infection rate in seven days to December 4: 94.0
Number of cases in seven days to December 4: 166
Test Valley
The Test Valley borders West Berkshire and stretches south towards Southampton. It has the 15th lowest infection rate in the country.
Tier: 2
Infection rate in seven days to December 11: 62.6
Number of cases in seven days to December 11: 79
Infection rate in seven days to December 4: 42.8
Number of cases in seven days to December 4: 54
The latest Berkshire infection rates
From left to right, you can see the name of the local authority; the rate of new cases in the seven days to December 11; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to December 11; the rate of new cases in the seven days to December 4; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to December 4.
- Slough 352.4, (527), 239.4, (358)
- Reading 221.3, (358), 166.9, (270)
- Bracknell Forest 222.0, (272), 143.6, (176)
- Wokingham 185.3, (317), 133.8, (229)
- West Berkshire 158.4, (251), 58.1, (92)
- Windsor and Maidenhead 139.3, (211), 99.1, (150)