Coronavirus: Warning as Oadby and Wigston's infection rate rockets

Oadby and Wigston had been subject to local lockdown measures but was released in August

Residents of a county borough have been warned they could be subject to local lockdown rules again after rates tripled in a week.

Oadby and Wigston in Leicestershire now has the second highest seven-day infection rate in England.

Latest government data shows the district's rate went from 43.8 by 5 September up to 133.3 by 12 September.

It has already been in lockdown and officials said tougher restrictions could return unless numbers drop.

According to latest figures, only Bolton - where measures have been tightened - has a higher infection rate of 196.1.

A total of 76 coronavirus cases have been reported in the borough in the week up to 12 September, up from 25.

Mike Sandys, Leicestershire County Council's public health director, said the rise is "dramatic".

'Big bang'

Mr Sandys said the infections in Oadby and Wigston were spread across all age groups and appear to be coming from community transmission and households mixing.

He said there was no clear reason why it had suddenly taken off.

But he warned if rates do not come down quickly, "we'll have to consider introducing local restrictions".

Mike Sandys said although the small population of Oadby and Wigston might skew the numbers, it was a "red alert" for him

He added: "This is serious and it might be enough of a rise to warrant further restrictions.

"The Friday before last, the numbers had gone up a certain level [but] I thought it would be more like a rising tide, not the big bang we have seen."

He urged people to stick to social distancing rules, wash their hands and to limit meeting other households, where possible, even though the "rule of six" now applies.

The council added it is waiting for confirmation of an additional testing unit for the area.

Oadby and Wigston was part of the UK's first local lockdown imposed on Leicester and surrounding areas in June but was released in early August.

Scott Frake is sure another lockdown is coming to the area

Scott Frake, 42, runs a fruit and vegetable stall in Oadby and believes the people he has served generally follow the rules.

But he added: "All this news is going to stop people coming out anyway - everything has already started to slow down here."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said it is working "closely" with local authorities, who are tasked with controlling local outbreaks in the first instance.

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