THE number of patients being newly diagnosed with coronavirus at Colchester Hospital has more than doubled in the space of a fortnight.

Between October 19 and October 25, the East Suffolk and North Essex Trust says 41 inpatients tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving at Colchester Hospital.

This is an increase of 23 from 18 for the week between October 5 and October 11.

It is equivalent to a 128 per cent rise in patients across the two weeks.

Six patients inpatients at Ipswich Hospital were also diagnosed in this time period.

The figures include patients who are still in hospital and those who have now been discharged.

There were also ten deaths of patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 at Colchester Hospital between October 15 and October 25.

The news of more admissions at the town’s hospital follows data showing Colchester’s coronavirus infection rate continues to rise, with 228 cases being confirmed within seven days.

The infection rate in Colchester is now 117.1 cases per 100,000 people with 228 new cases confirmed in the latest seven days.

The figures, for the seven days to October 22, are based on tests carried out in laboratories and in the wider community.

This is up from 112.5 in the seven days ending October 21.

Read more >>> Coronavirus infection rate in Colchester rises again

Over the same period Tendring recorded 150 cases, a rate of 102.3 cases per 100,000 people, down from 103 the day before.

Leader of Colchester Council Mark Cory said the rise in cases should focus people’s minds.

He said: “The rates of hospital admissions are going up rapidly across the country.

“Sage advice suggests the incoming second wave could be worse than the first if we do not control it quickly.

“Personally I support a circuit breaker lockdown at this point which would give residents and businesses some certainty.

“We all want to see our family and friends as it gets closer to Christmas and we need to act now or we will be in a grave situation by the festive period.

“I understand people are tired because of the previous lockdown and I think people are confused with the Government restrictions.

“The rise in cases is not Colchester specific. We have a hospital here and more than the average number of care homes in the NHS footprint so we are likely to see higher numbers of cases.

“We are also an urban area with areas of deprivation which also makes a difference.

“Everyone needs to play their part and abide by the restrictions.

“Essex’s director of public health Mike Gogarty warned us in four weeks we could be in a similar situation to Manchester, that was two and-a-half weeks ago, and it appears we are on that trajectory.”

These are the Colchester cases by area:

  • Central Colchester - 42
  • Parson’s Heath - 28
  • Mile End & Braiswick - 25
  • Abbey Field - 24
  • Highwoods - 14
  • Monkwick - 14
  • Old Heath & Rowhedge - 11
  • Layer-de-la-Haye, Abberton & Mersea East - 11
  • New Town & Hythe - 10
  • Wivenhoe & University - 8
  • Greenstead - 6
  • Marks Tey & Wakes Colne - 6
  • Horkesley Heath, Langham & Dedham - 5
  • Tiptree - 5
  • Shrub End - 5
  • Prettygate & Westlands - 4