Worthing coronavirus cases: Infection rate drops significantly after outbreak

The latest figures from Public Health England show 19 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded between September 6 and September 13.

Taking Worthing's population to be around 110,000, that gives an infection rate of just over 17 per 100,000 - below the national average for the first time in a fortnight.

The latest statistics, released at 4pm this afternoon (September 16), show only one new confirmed case has been recorded today.

The decline in infection rate follows a steep spike to 34 new infections per 100,000 people, more than double the national average.Both West Sussex County Council and Worthing Borough Council insisted they were aware of the outbreak and it was under control in a claim that appears to be backed up by the figures.

Opposition councillors in Worthing wrote a letter to the borough council today calling for an 'extraordinary meeting', where the council could outline and discuss its strategy for suppressing the virus.

Despite Worthing's infection rate falling, the rate across the UK continues to rise. New guidelines to limit social groups to no more than six people were introduced on Monday (September 14) in a bit to curb the spread.

But a testing crisis means many people have struggled to book a test, with the county council expressing concern this could mean the authorities are unaware of the exact number of infections in the area, limiting the opportunities to take action or plan ahead.

A total of 378,219 people have now tested positive for coronavirus in the UK since the pandemic began, with a further 3,991 cases recorded today.

Twenty more people were sadly recorded as having died within 28 days of a positive test today, taking the total to 41,684.