Coronavirus infection rates across Hertfordshire are now significantly lower than what they were over the Christmas and New Year period, data shows.
The number of Covid-19 cases in all 10 of the county’s districts have been falling during England’s third national lockdown, which was implemented at the start of January after cases rates reached extremely high levels at the end of December.
Watford, Broxbourne and Hertsmere were areas recording an infection rate of over 1,000 cases per 100,000 population during a seven-day period over Christmas and New Year, while other districts were not too far off this mark either.
But while case rates still remain high in Hertfordshire, they are now much, much lower than what they were.
Hertfordshire's director of public health Jim McManus thanked residents at the end of January for helping to bring coronavirus infection rates down over the last few weeks.
But while cases are dropping, he urged people not to get complacent and to continue following the lockdown rules.
Read more: High praise for residents after Covid cases fall in Hertfordshire
What is the current situation like in Hertfordshire?
Things are currently looking positive in Hertfordshire, with the number of coronavirus cases being reported in the county much lower than figures before lockdown.
A total of 312 new cases were reported on February 6, while multiple days over the Christmas and New Year period were reporting more than 1,000 new cases.
And the drop of cases has had a positive impact on weekly infection rates, with data showing a week-on-week fall in all districts.
The latest data, which is the seven days to February 1, shows no district recorded a rate over 400 cases per 100,000 population.
Compared to the seven days to December 31 last year, 8 out of 10 districts saw a rate of over 700 cases per 100,000 population.
Watford currently has the highest infection rate in South West Hertfordshire, recording a rate of 362.4 cases per 100,000 population in the seven days to February 1.
In the same time period, Hertsmere, Three Rivers and Dacorum did not record a rate higher than 300 or lower than 200.
St Albans had dropped below 200 cases per 100,000 population in the seven days to February 1.
While the latest rates are not as low as what they were when England left the November lockdown, when nowhere was recording over 200 cases per 100,000 population, there are plenty of encouraging signs to suggest that cases will continue to fall during lockdown.
And a government Covid map also shows how coronavirus cases in several wards have fallen during lockdown.
Speaking in a media breifing at the end of January, Mr McManus said: "We are in a better position than we had feared and (to say) we are grateful is an understatement to our residents.
"If you look at the case rate, clearly lockdown has had an impact but lockdowns generally work if people adhere to the measures, so our residents have clearly done something.
"In that second week of January, the drop started to accelerate, so I think we are in a better position than I had feared. But that is not cause for complacency."
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