THERE has been a near 40 per cent rise in the number of people admitted to hospital for treatment for Covid-19 in the Crewe area.

In all 95 people were taken in by Mid Cheshire Hospitals Trust/Leighton Hospital in the week up to March 20 (last Sunday), 27 more patients than were admitted over the previous seven days.

The numbers of beds occupied by Covid patients at Leighton has continued to rise sharply in recent weeks after peaking at 156 on January 26 at the height of the Omicron wave.

While there were only 20 patients being treated for coronavirus at the start of the month (March 1) the numbers have risen to 82 by Tuesday this week (March 22).

The sub-variant of Omicron, known as BA.2, is driving the surge in the UK and is the most common strain now in the country.

That could be a result of increased transmissibility and the easing of restrictions – from February 24 those testing positive were no longer required to isolate by law – as well as waning immunity.

In Cheshire East, 3,790 people tested positive for Covid in the seven days up to today (Friday), a rise of 451 (13.5%) on the previous week. There were five deaths as a result of the virus.

Nearly 30 per cent of the population over 12 have yet to have a third booster jab.

The case rate per 100,000 population in Cheshire East was 947 last weekend compared to a UK rate of 878. In most areas of Crewe rates exceed 1,000.

Cheshire East Council's director of public health, Dr Matt Tyrer, has warned people to follow Covid safety advice, including self-isolating if they develop symptoms or test positive.