In the week up to yesterday, 22 December, there have been 5,943 new cases of COVID-19 in Suffolk.

This includes 648 cases in Babergh, which encompasses the Shotley peninsula, but the district remains the seventh least affected in the country.

The rate of new weekly cases per one hundred thousand people in Suffolk has increased from the previous week and is now, at 720.1 cases per 100,000 people. This rate is lower than the rate for the East of England region (893.5 / 100,000) and the rate for England as a whole (803.1 / 100,000).

In total, up to 10 December 2021, there have been 1,737 deaths in Suffolk where COVID-19 was recorded on the death certificate. There have been 6 COVID-19 related deaths in that week of data.

The estimated 'R' value for the East of England is between 1.0 - 1.2. Any R value greater than 1 means the epidemic is increasing.

Weekly cases and rates

COVID-19 cases are identified by taking specimens from people which are then tested, either using a PCR test which is processed in a lab, or by using a rapid lateral flow device (LFD). Positive rapid lateral flow test results can be confirmed with PCR tests taken within 72 hours. If the PCR test results are negative, these are no longer reported as cases. This policy was reintroduced in England on March 29, 2021. On April 9, 2021, a total of 116 cases with specimen dates after November 1, 2020, were removed from Suffolk's cumulative total retrospectively due to meeting this criteria. In the week to 22 December 2021, there were 5,943 new cases of COVID-19 in Suffolk. This number has increased compared to the previous week. It is possible to calculate a case rate by dividing the number of cases by the number of people in a given population – this makes it possible to compare cases across different areas. The most recent underlying weekly case rate in Suffolk was 720.1 cases per 100,000 people. This case rate has increased compared to the previous week. This rate is lower than the rate for the East of England region (893.5 / 100,000) and the rate for England as a whole (803.1 / 100,000). In the last week of reported data up to 22 December 2021, there have been 648 cases in Babergh, 1,889 cases in East Suffolk, 1,333 cases in Ipswich, 876 cases in Mid Suffolk and 1,197 cases in West Suffolk.