Covid cases drop in Watford with rise confirmed in Croxley Green

The town recorded 44 cases in the seven days to June 3 which was down from 73 cases the week earlier.

Watford's rate of cases rose to nearly the highest in the south of England towards the end of May, prompting a 'Covid alert' from Hertfordshire County Council.

Public health data suggested an outbreak at a primary school was responsible for the rise.

Cherry Tree Primary School in the north of the town was forced to close on the advice of public health experts after head teacher Cheska Tyler confirmed a spread of Covid cases in her school.

But a latest map of cases shows tentative signs that the outbreak in that area has been controlled, with cases in Leggatts, where the school lies, falling between the end of May and beginning of June.

An outbreak of cases was confirmed at Cherry Tree Primary School in Watford towards the end of May. Credit: Google Maps

However, new cases have cropped up in other areas of the town including in Cassiobury and western parts of Watford.

So far in June, 32 residents in Watford have tested positive for coronavirus.

From May into June, after a spike in cases involving five to nine-year-olds, cases generally involved people in their teens and 30s, with some isolated cases of people aged over 60.

Watford's current rate of 45.6 cases per 100,000 population is around the 75th highest out of just over 300 local authorities in England. The town's rate had been in the 80s in May before the number of confirmed infections began dropping.

Watford's rate has now been overtaken by neighbouring Three Rivers district, predominantly due to an outbreak confirmed at a primary school.

Little Green Junior School in Croxley confirmed several of its pupils were self-isolating over half-term after positive cases were identified within the school.

A map shows Three Rivers' latest hotspot of Covid cases is the ward of Croxley North & Sarratt, which is where Little Green Junior School lies.

The map shows 23 cases were recorded in this ward between May 27 and June 2 - a rise of 21 cases on the previous week.

Croxley Green recorded nine cases between May 27 and June 2.

Three Rivers' rate stands at 67.5, up from 26.8.

An age heatmap shows the vast majority of cases recorded in Three Rivers at the end of May and beginning of June involved primary school aged children.

Over in Bushey, in Hertsmere, the area looks to have been possibly free from any cases between May 27 and June 2, although the map doesn't show the specific numbers of infections in places which recorded less than three, for privacy purposes.

At Watford General Hospital, new coronavirus patients arrived at the end of May, according to the Government's Covid dashboard.

The hospital was not caring for any Covid patients as of May 23, but by the end of the month, five patients were being cared for, including two on ventilation.

The public health advice issued by Hertfordshire's public health director Jim McManus over the May bank holiday still stands.

He said: "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."