COVID cases in Wiltshire have surged by over 50 per cent in the last seven days and is more than double the national average.

In the last week, 4,672 new cases of the virus have been recorded among the residents of Wiltshire.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Covid cases per seven day period in Wiltshire (October 26)Covid cases per seven day period in Wiltshire (October 26)

This means that the infection rate in Wiltshire stands at 926.9 cases per 100,000 people.

The same figure for England is 488.5 per 100,000 people – meaning that the case rates in Wiltshire are more than double the national average.

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In contrast, last week the same figure stood at 601.7 – just over a 54 per cent increase.

Local cases rates, according to the official figures, continue to be at the highest levels since the start of the pandemic.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Covid case rates by speciment date since the start of the pandemicCovid case rates by speciment date since the start of the pandemic

In the run up to Halloween, Wiltshire’s public health team has recommended that trick or treaters take hand sanitiser with them and keep a reasonable distance where possible.

Director of public health in Wiltshire, Kate Blackburn said: “We know life feels like it’s back to normal but we need to continue to be aware that Covid-19 is spreading in the county at the moment much more than we would like.

"We don’t begrudge anyone looking forward to half-term and Halloween, as a lot of activities have been put on hold over the last year and a half, and we know how much they mean to people.

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“All we’d ask is that people make informed choices based on their own individual circumstances and continue to take measures to keep each other safe.”