How close is Windsor and Maidenhead to local lockdown after a rise in coronaviru

[Cookham v Coronavirus]

The number of coronavirus cases in Windsor and Maidenhead has trebled in two weeks, bringing the infection rate to 43.6 per 100,000 people.

In the seven days up to September 12, the town saw 66 new confirmed cases - up from 27 cases the previous week.

According to figures calculated by news agency PA from Public Health England data, the infection rate in Windsor and Maidenhead was 43.6 on September 12 - nearly two and a half times the rate (17.8 per 100,000) from September 5.

The infection rate refers to the number of new cases per 100,000 people.

It comes as testing issues across Berkshire are continuing to be experienced.

Local shortages have seen many people reporting problems with getting online bookings and being directed to test sites hundreds of miles from their homes, with those in Reading earlier this month being told to travel 70 miles to take the ferry to the Isle of Wight for a test.

The recent problems triggered Labour and Slough MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi to write to Mr Hancock out of fears the town could be thrust back onto the Government's watchlist because of the "unacceptable" coronavirus testing problems.

Local lockdowns are introduced in a bid to stop coronavirus outbreaks. Areas across the country with high infection rates can be locked down or have extra restrictions put in place to limit the spread of the virus.

The Government has not set a level of infection rate that would trigger a local lockdown, but areas with more than 40 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people are most likely to be considered for extra restrictions.

The highest infection rate in England at the moment is 196.1 in Bolton, with the town recording 564 new cases in the seven days to September 12, while the lowest is 0.0 in Babergh in Suffolk.

These figures, based on Public Health England data published on Tuesday, September 15, take into account the tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one) and the wider community (pillar two).

The area must first go on the government watchlist, and as cases continue to rise, restrictions could then be put in place.

Although Windsor and Maidenhead have seen cases rise suddenly they are still way off the levels of infections seen in areas of the country with local lockdowns.

Officials will be watching the infection rate very carefully and if cases continue to rise, action could be taken.