With the infection rate in Three Rivers in the highest third of local authorities and isolated cases of the new ‘Omicron’ variant, its safe to say COVID is making its way through Rickmansworth and Hertfordshire at large once again.
Current government figures show the rise in numbers is not insignificant, with rates of infection now spreading into the dozens in some parts of Three Rivers.
The ward of Rickmansworth North & Loudwater has a rate of 879.4 per every 100,000 people, which is slightly above the UK average.
Rickmansworth West has a rate of 622.5, Mill End, Heronsgate & Maple Cross had a rate of 673.6 and Moor Park & Batchworth had a rate of 613.7.
Between December 8 and December 14, 667 in the Three Rivers area were infected with COVID-19. By December 7, 34 people were in hospital with the virus, 5 of whom were on ventilators.
The new Omicron variant has also been identified across the district, including in Rickmansworth, Croxley Green, Watford and several other towns and villages.
This comes as the government has started the rollout of booster vaccinations for everyone above the age of 18.
Dr Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at the UK Heath Security Agency (UKHSA), said:
“Hospitalisations always lag a few weeks behind infections, therefore it isn’t surprising that we have started to see people being admitted to hospital with the Omicron variant.
“Our data shows that getting the booster vaccine is more effective against this variant than 2 doses alone. Everyone over 18 is now able to walk into a vaccine centre, so do not hesitate to get yours.”
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