Hucknall: Covid case rates start to rise among older people in Nottinghamshire

More than 130 patients with Covid-19 are in Nottinghamshire's hospitals – 16 of which are in a critical condition.

Public health managers also said the rate of infection is starting to now increase among the over-40s and over-60s and pleaded with people to remain safe.

Rosa Waddingham, from NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire's Clinical Commissioning Group, said "a large proportion of people seriously ill with Covid" had not been vaccinated.

Public Health Nottingham said the lowest uptake in the city for the jab was among the ages of 25 to 40 – with around two thirds of the city now fully vaccinated.

Lucy Hubber, Director of Public Health in Nottingham, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "Trying to understand why that might be really begins to come down to some people's individual risk assessment.

"That they think they are young enough to not get very poorly but they are old enough that they don't really want to go into the nightclubs and the bars they will need the Covid passes for. So, really important we get across to people that Covid actually is still really serious and transmissible.

"The vaccine helps reduce serious illness and death and reduces the spread of Covid as well. So even if you think you are not likely to get very poorly you might spend time with people who are vulnerable and you taking the vaccine will protect them."

She also praised the student population of the city who had gone in their droves to get both jabs.

Currently there are 137 beds occupied by Covid-19 patients across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire's hospitals – 16 which are in a critical condition.

Booster jabs are now being offered from Saturday, October 16, at Mansfield Vaccine Centre and King's Mill Hospital in Sutton-in-Ashfield.

The booster jabs will also be available from the Forest Recreation Ground from Thursday, October 21, for anyone who had their second jab six months ago.

Jonathan Gribbin, Public Health Director for Nottinghamshire, said: "Over the last few weeks there are increases (of positive Covid tests) in older age groups – over 40s and over 60s.

"What we are seeing is consistent with a picture of widespread community transmission. The advice to act carefully and cautiously is for everyone."

He said the highest rates of infection remain in Bassetlaw, where there is a case rate of 671 cases per 100,000 people, and Broxtowe has the lowest at 460 cases per 100,000 people.

In the city, the rate is 250 cases per 100,000 people.