COVID stats update: hospitalisations surge though infection rates appear to drop

The latest numbers we have, which are for April 5, show 97 people were in Wirral's hospitals with the virus, a major jump from 66 the week before. After a huge rise over the first three weeks of March, hospital numbers had started to fall, but the latest figures have seen that trend dramatically reverse.

There have not been this many people in Wirral hospitalised with COVID since January 11, after a big rise in cases over Christmas and early January. On the other hand, case numbers are down.

Wirral's infection rate fell 29% to 704 per 100,000 in the week up to April 3. However, these numbers may be skewed as free testing ended for most people at the end of last month, something which may discourage people from checking if they have the virus.

There were 11 deaths recorded within 28 days of testing positive for the virus in Wirral, a far higher figure than we have seen in recent weeks. Breaking case numbers down to a more local level, Bebington had more cases than any other part of Wirral in the week up to April 1 with 153, while Oxton had 132 cases and Upton had 130.

Leasowe and Moreton East had the fewest cases with 88, while Pensby and Thingwall had 92 and Bromborough had 97.

COVID-19 cases for every Wirral ward:

Bebington 153

Oxton 132

Upton 130

Birkenhead and Tranmere 129

Clatterbridge 129

Greasby, Frankby and Irby 126

New Brighton 122

Claughton 121

Hoylake and Meols 121

Moreton West and Saughall Massie 120

West Kirby and Thurstaston 119

Eastham 118

Heswall 111

Seacombe 110

Liscard 109

Bidston and St James 105

Wallasey 101

Rock Ferry 99

Prenton 99

Bromborough 97

Pensby and Thingwall 92

Leasowe and Moreton East 88