Guildford’s Covid Rate Falls Again While Most in the County See a Rise

Published on: 8 Dec, 2020
Updated on: 10 Dec, 2020

By Martin Giles

As the first vaccinations are given in Guildford and across the country, the infection rate for Guildford borough has dipped for the third consecutive week, this time to just below 100 new infections per 100,000 people.

For the seven days up to yesterday (December 7), there were 148 new infections confirmed giving a rate per 100k of 99, the second-lowest of any Surrey borough or district. Only Waverley to the south and west of Guildford borough has a lower rate, 65.

But after two weekly falls, the rate for the whole county disappointingly rose again last week from 112 to 129.

The latest weekly infection rates in the boroughs and districts of Surrey (for week ending Dec 7 2020)

Generally, the rates are higher in the boroughs and districts neighbouring London boroughs although in Elmbridge, the only Surrey borough to fall under Tier 2 restrictions before the recent lockdown, the rate is only 110.

And there are fears that the increased number of cases in London will result in the capital moving into Tier 3 and eventually lead to higher rates in Surrey.

R rate December 8 2020

The “R rate”, an estimation of the reproduction rate of the infection, has decreased again in the South East but the region, together with London, still has the highest R rate in England, just either side of one.

Predictably lagging behind the increased number of infections, hospital admissions and the number of Covid associated deaths continued to increase. There were four last week within 28 days of a positive test and three where Covid was mentioned on the death certificate.

And the infection rates within Guildford borough continue to vary wildly. South Guildford, including Pewley, St Catherine’s and more lately Onslow Village, have obstinately high rates of infection, over 200. While Artington, a little to the south, has an infection rate of just three and Chilworth, together with Gomshall, Shere and Albury, has a rate even lower.