Cumbria has experienced its worst week for new Covid-19 infections, with nearly 3,500 people testing positive in the week ending January 8.

A further 3,489 people tested positive for the virus, which is 39 per cent increase on the previous week.

Infection rates are high across the county, especially Carlisle where the infection rate is 1,151 per 100,00 people.

Hospitals remain under immense pressure, particularly those in the north of the county where there was a 63 per cent increase in the number of Covid-19 patients last week.

There are now about 270 people being treated in north Cumbrian hospitals.

A further 59 people have died from Covid-19 in the seven days to January 12, bringing the total number of Covid-19 deaths in Cumbria to 833 since the start of the pandemic.

Colin Cox, Cumbria’s Director of Public Health, said:“We remain in an extremely serious situation. In the very latest provisional data, there are some early signs that the rate of increase in new infections may be slowing, but the infection rate is still very high.

“Even if that trends continues, we can expect the very high numbers of people requiring hospital care, and increasing deaths, to continue for some weeks. This is putting our local NHS system under intense pressure.

“I cannot stress strongly enough how important it is that we all follow the lockdown rules. The virus spreads when people come into contact, we must do everything we can to stop unnecessary contact with other people. Where being in contact with others is unavoidable, keep your distance, wear a mask, wash your hands – it does make a difference.”

The full weekly Covid-19 situation report can be found at www.cumbria.gov.uk/stopthespread