Take precautions as Covid cases come close to record levels in Oxfordshire

Case rates in the county currently stand at 648 per 100,000 of the population, compared with 655 per 100,000 on January 4. Although case numbers remain highest in children, there are also particularly notable rises in the 40 - 49 age group.

There is also a small but rising number of Omicron variant cases in the county, which – as with the rest of England – will affect the overall situation ever more as December progresses.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Public Health, Ansaf Azhar, said: “Cases in Oxfordshire are as high as they’ve ever been, so now is the moment when we all need to take extra care to look after ourselves and our loved ones.

“It is thanks to the vaccination programme that these high case numbers are not matched by the sort of hospital numbers or death rates that we saw across the country in early 2021. That’s why it’s so important for people to come forward for a jab as soon as they become eligible, whether that’s a first, second, third or booster jab.

“We must also remember that the NHS and social care are under huge amounts of pressure, and we must do everything we can to protect these vital resources.

“With rising case numbers and the new variant in circulation, we are now in a very uncertain period. There are however some certainties, whether we are talking about Omicron or Delta. Wearing face coverings, being careful about mixing with others, washing hands, ventilating rooms and all of that familiar advice remains crucial.

Testing is another key defence in our fight against the virus. By regularly using lateral flow tests, particularly before meeting family, friends, or co-workers, you cut down the chances of passing on the virus unwittingly to others.

“We are not currently facing the kind of tough restrictions we did last year. So it’s down to each of us to take precautions so that we can protect ourselves and our loved ones.

“We urge people to apply their common sense to their own personal circumstances to help stop the spread and increase their chances of keeping their families Covid-free as Christmas approaches.”

Latest government figures show three areas near Banbury with a spike in positive Covid cases.

Here are the latest Government Covid figures for the Banbury area for the seven day period ending on December 2.

Brackley North: 161 cases - increase by 100

Bloxham, Bodicote and Adderbury: 118 cases - no change

Shipston and Brailes: 104 cases - decrease of 55

Silverstone & Helmdon: 94 cases - increase of 49

Brackley South: 81 cases - increase of 59

Banbury Grimsbury: 75 cases - increase of 25

Banbury Easington: 61 cases - increase of 14

Banbury Hardwick: 56 cases - increase of 4

Deddington, Steeple Aston & Heyfords: 56 cases - decrease of 5

King's Sutton & Greatworth: 47 cases - increase of 5

Middleton Cheney & Chipping Warden: 46 cases - increase of 20

Sibford, Hook Norton & Milcombe: 45 cases - decrease of 7

Kingham, Enstone & Middle Barton: 45 cases - increase of 20

Kineton, Tysoe & Warmington: 41 cases - increase of 18

Banbury Ruscote: 40 cases - increase of 12

Cropredy, Wroxton & Shenington: 39 cases - increase of 8

Banbury Neithrop: 36 cases - increase of 4

Banbury Calthorpe: 31 cases - increase of 7