A map has revealed which areas of Watford are currently experiencing the most number of coronavirus cases.

Cases of the disease continue to rise in the town, and other parts of south west Hertfordshire.

There have been 372 new cases in Watford in October compared to 140 in September.

The rise prompted the mayor of Watford Peter Taylor to call on residents to “pull together” to tackle the threat posed by rising Covid-19 cases and to do what is necessary to prevent possible tighter lockdown restrictions.

Watford currently has the highest weekly rate of coronavirus cases in Hertfordshire – 143.9 cases per 100,000 (139 cases) in the seven days to October 21.

The latest figures published on the government dashboard show the majority of current cases are based in the north and west of Watford.

Watford Observer:

The darker blue indicates where cases are most common on where rates are increasing the most

In the seven days to October 21, there were 36 cases in the West Watford area, including 21 in Holywell, while there were 32 cases across Callowland and Leggatts wards in the north of the town.

But the biggest jump in a single ward has come in Nascot Wood where cases have risen by 15 over a week to 21 in the seven days to October 21.

Mr Taylor says a lot of the cases in Watford are “isolated” but they are affecting people of all ages – public health leaders warned last week Hertfordshire was seeing a rise in the number of people aged between 60 and 75 testing positive for Covid-19.

Areas like Watford town centre, Cassiobury, Woodside, Stanborough, and Garston all recorded fewer than ten cases over the same period.

Neighbouring Bushey in Hertsmere is also a coronavirus hotspot – although cases are declining.

Collectively, Bushey Heath, Bushey Central, and Bushey North recorded 40 cases in the seven days to October 21 – down from 52 a week earlier.

Other hotspots in our area include South Oxhey (13), Moor Park & Batchworth (16) and Oxhey Hall & Hayling (16).

Top 10 Covid-19 hotspots in Watford, Hertsmere, and Three Rivers, in seven days to October 21 (in brackets is difference between week earlier)

1. Nascot Wood - 21 (+15)

=.Holywell, Watford - 21 (+10)

3. Borehamwood Hillside - 19 (+9)

4. North Watford 18 (+9)

5. Oxhey Hall & Hayling - 16 (+12)

=. Bushey Heath - 16 (-6)

=. Moor Park & Batchworth - 16 (+3)

8. West Watford - 15 (+1)

9. Bushey Central - 14 (-5)

=. Leggatts, Watford - 14 (+2)

Number of cases in each of Watford's districts in seven days to October 21

  1. Holywell - 21
  2. Nascot Wood - 21
  3. North Watford - 18
  4. West Watford -15
  5. Leggats - 14
  6. Tudor - 13
  7. Central - 10
  8. Oxhey - 10
  9. Stanborough - 7
  10. Woodside & Leavesden Green - 6
  11. Cassiobury - 5
  12. Garston - 5

The map can be explored in more detail here.

Some areas may still be seeing their rates skewed slightly by university students but data shared by Hertfordshire County Council showed Watford’s rates have not been skewed as much as in Hertsmere, Three Rivers, or St Albans.

Meanwhile, rates in North Hertfordshire remain comparatively low to the likes of Watford and Three Rivers, which is keeping Hertfordshire out of Tier 2 restrictions for now.

Watford, Hertsmere, Three Rivers, Dacorum, Broxbourne, and Welwyn Hatfield all have rates over 100, with East Herts on 99.5 and St Albans on 93.6.

Stevenage has seen a rise over the last week and now has a rate of 78.5 with North Herts on 67.4.

Last week, cabinet member for public health in the county, Tim Hutchings, warned Hertfordshire was “not far off” Tier 2 restrictions - cases have escalated in a number of districts since, most notably in Watford, St Albans, Broxbourne, and Stevenage.

Director of public health in Hertfordshire, Jim McManus, said the best way to bring the virus levels down was for everyone to treat each other as if they were already infected with the disease.

Watford Observer:

Credit: PA

In the east of England, there were 369 coronavirus patients in hospital as of 4pm on Sunday, including 30 on ventilation.

Ten days ago, there were 209 patients in hospital, while it was as low as 35 a month before that.

Fifty-six hospital admissions on October 23 was the highest number of new admissions in a day in the east since June 15, according to data on the government’s dashboard.