Reading coronavirus rate reaches new high but Windsor & Maidenhead fall

[Cookham v Coronavirus]

The coronavirus infection rate in Reading has peaked, reaching more than 100 for the first time,as the area moves closer to Tier 2 restrictions.

Reading Borough Council bosses confirmed they are in talks with the Government about moving up to Tier 2 if coronavirus cases continue to spiral upwards.

The latest figures in the seven days leading up to Thursday, October 22, show the town now has a rate of 107.6 cases for every 100,000 people.

Other areas in Berkshire have seen a considerable jump too, with Bracknell Forest and Wokingham now also approaching the 100 mark.

There is slightly better news for people in Windsor and Maidenhead though, as the borough has seen a drop in cases.

Last week, BerkshireLive reported the number had risen to 140.7 per 100,000 people but that has fallen to 136.7 in the seven days to October 22.

Bracknell Forest's figure is now 90.6 per 100, 000 with 111 new cases, up from an infection rate of 72.6 in the seven days to October 15.

Wokingham has also seen a rise in its infection rate to 95.8 per 100,000 from 76.6.

And health bosses in West Berkshire might be feeling a little more nervous.

The area still has the lowest rates in Berkshire - which is has had throughout the pandemic. However, those infection rates rose steeply to from 51.8 to 77.6 in the latest figures, with 123 new cases.

The highest rates remain in Tier 2 Slough, where it is has risen again from 127.7 to 166.5 with 249 new cases.

So far it is the only area of Berkshire to be put under the high alert level restrictions.

The latest Berkshire infection rates

From left to right, it reads: name of local authority; rate of new cases in the seven days to October 22; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to October 22; rate of new cases in the seven days to October 15; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to October 15.

Reading 107.6 (174), 91.5 (148)

Wokingham 95.8 (164), 76.6 (131)

Bracknell Forest 90.6 (111), 72.6 (89)

Windsor and Maidenhead 136.7 (207), 125.5 (190)

Slough 166.5 (249), 127.7 (191)


West Berkshire 77.6 (123), 51.8 (82)

We looked at how close each area was to being moved to Tier 2 on Saturday and which areas were in talks with government officials about moving from Tier 1.

How does Berkshire compare with the worst hit areas?

The rates in the north of England remain far higher than in Berkshire.

The worst area of all is Blackburn with Darwen in Manchester, with a rate of 755.5 per 100,000 people, and 1,131 new cases.

Oldham, in Greater Manchester, is third with a rising infection rate from 415 to 653.3 per 100,000 people and 467 new cases.

There is some good news in the hotspot of Nottingham for long time the worst area in the country, where the rate dropped from 726.6 to 464.4 per 100,000 people.

The area is set to go into Tier 3 this week.

Second is Rossendale, also in Lancashire, with an infection rate of 653.3 and 467 new cases.