Cluster of Covid cases focused on Watford neighbourhood, map shows

Watford’s coronavirus case rate has risen over the last week or so – now the second highest in the south of England – prompting Hertfordshire County Council to issue a 'Covid alert' ahead of the bank holiday weekend.

The county’s director of public health, Jim McManus, told the Observer on Friday that cases had been recorded across the town; however a government map updated today shows one of Watford’s 12 wards is more affected than anywhere else.

That ward is Leggatts, which recorded 31 cases in the seven days to May 27 – a rise of 29 cases on the seven days previous to that.

It was between May 24 and 27 when Watford recorded a sudden rise of 59 cases.

Scroll down for a table of the number of cases in your neighbourhood

The rise in Leggatts ward does not come as a surprise as this is the ward that Cherry Tree Primary School in Watford falls within – a school which closed last week after a spread of coronavirus cases across year groups.

Head teacher Cheska Tyler told the Observer last week that she hopes to reopen the school on June 7, after half-term. She said a decision had been made to shut the school following guidance from public health officials.

Cherry Tree Primary School in the northern part of Watford. Credit: Google Maps

Further evidence that the outbreak predominantly involves youngsters has been strengthened by a heatmap published on the government’s dashboard, which shows the rolling rate of cases over the last week in Watford increased the most in the 5-9 age group, followed by people aged in their 30s.

The same heatmap shows between May 13 and 27, no over 65s in Watford tested positive for Covid.

See more: Nine people issued with coronavirus fines in Watford 

Watford mayor Peter Taylor said last week: "We are aware of an outbreak at one of our local schools and the environmental health team at Hertfordshire County Council are working closely with Public Health England to trace all cases to stop further community transmission."

After a flurry of cases in the early part of last week, the number of new daily cases recorded in Watford has dropped but due to the bank holiday weekend, it is too early to say whether any spread of Covid has been suppressed or controlled yet.

While, the same map shows the recent coronavirus cases aren’t just restricted to Leggatts.

In the seven days to May 27, Central Watford recorded the second highest amount of cases, with 11, but five areas of Watford recorded less than three cases. Holywell has also seen a drop compared to the previous week.

The map doesn’t take into account 24 cases that have been recorded on the government’s daily coronavirus dashboard since May 27.

The dark blue is Leggatts while the other area of shaded blue is Central Watford. Credit: Public Health England

Watford’s weekly rate currently sits at 84.9 - the 18th highest in England. However, in light of the slowdown in new cases, Watford’s rate is likely to come down again in the coming days unless there is another surge.

Meanwhile, today was the first day since March 2020 that zero Covid-deaths were reported by Public Health England anywhere in the UK in the last 24 hours.

The latest data from Public Health England also shows West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Watford General, was not caring for any Covid patients as of May 25.

Walk-in vaccinations are being offered to eligible residents this week and next. For more details on these clinics, click here.

Watford Town Hall, where walk-in Covid jabs are taking place. Credit: Watford Borough Council/Simon Jacobs

Public health director Jim McManus said on Friday: "The number of coronavirus cases is rising in Watford, with cases spread right across the borough. The ‘coronavirus alert’ on social media seeks to inform our residents and encourage them to keep doing the basics over the Bank Holiday weekend.

"This means we should all continue to wear a face-covering when required, wash our hands regularly and maintain social-distancing and, if meeting people indoors, make sure the venue is well-ventilated.

"Meeting outdoors for now is much lower risk if the weather allows. It is also absolutely critical to get the vaccine when you can or when offered it, take a test twice-a-week, and self-isolate if you are told to. To find out more about tests and the options available, people can go to www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/rapidtest."