Considerable focus is being put on Dacorum after a “significant” rise in cases of coronavirus – as outbreaks in Watford and Hertsmere are reported too.

Hertfordshire County Council is not implementing any restrictions on Dacorum but public health officials are urging the community to act responsively as they attempt to squash the spread.

There have been outbreaks in Hemel Hempstead, Tring, and Berkhamsted, particularly involving teenagers and young adults – with outbreaks linked to at least three bars and cafes in the borough.

Meanwhile, Hertsmere has experienced an unusual spike over the last few days, while the rate in Watford is dropping again after another spike.

Keep reading for the latest data in Hertsmere, Watford, Dacorum, and Three Rivers

Hertsmere

The rate in Hertsmere has been stable for weeks with the rate consistently below 10.0 over a seven-day period – this rate is equivalent to around ten cases.

But on August 29 and 30, a total of 18 cases of Covid-19 were identified in the borough with a total of 32 since August 25 - which is one more than the previous 24 days in August.

The rate of new cases in Hertsmere in the seven days to August 30 is 29.5 - which is the 21st highest in England.

Speaking in a media briefing this morning, director of Public Health England for Hertfordshire, Jim McManus said investigations were ongoing to work out why there has been an outbreak in the borough.

He did mention that an outbreak may be linked to a workplace and he said the majority of those infected are youngsters – but did say those aged between 50 and 60 may also have caught the virus.

Hertsmere's care homes were heavily affected by Covid-19 during the peak of the pandemic – but there are no reports currently of any cases in the borough’s 17 care homes.

A government map shows between August 23 and August 29, three cases were identified in each of Radlett, Cowley Hill in Borehamwood, and three across Elstree and Aldenham.

Remaining cases during that time period would have been spread around the rest of the borough.

Mr McManus mentioned that despite a low rate of cases in Hertsmere, until now, testing rates in the borough have been a lot higher than the rest of Hertfordshire for some time.

On average, around 650 tests per 100,000 population are carried out in the county over a period of seven days – in Hertsmere it is nearly 900.

Hertsmere Borough Council leader Morris Bright said: “The numbers will rise and fall. It is possible with people going out, cases will rise.

“We have a plan prepared in Hertsmere and if we have to activate it, we will.

“Residents have been working really hard during lockdown to help see the numbers drop. But we have to remember this had not gone away.”

Scroll down for a day-by-day break-down area of the latest cases in your area

Watford

The rate in Watford has been up and down for weeks, and when outbreaks have occurred, they have been linked to large households.

Government figures show a total of 23 new cases between August 23 and 27, including eight on the 24th.

This gave the town a rate of 23 – it had been as low as 8.0 the week earlier.

Daily data shows the spike in cases in Watford has tailed off with just one reported in the last five days – but this tailing off has happened previously, before the virus re-emerges again.

A cluster of cases towards the middle of August were largely focused on the northern area of the town.

But between August 23 and 29, six cases were identified in Watford town centre, four in Cassiobury, and four in West Watford, with no cluster in North Watford.

Dacorum

The borough has seen a sustained rise in the number of cases, which began in the Tring and Berkhamsted area but have now moved towards Hemel Hempstead and Bovingdon.

In the meeting, Mr McManus said the outbreak in Dacorum was not linked to just one person but potentially three or four and he suggested they have recently been travelling.

The spread of the virus is understood to have taken place at bars and pubs in the Tring and Berkhamsted area.

Contact tracing was ramped up across Dacorum this morning but public health officials don’t know how many people may currently be infected.

Around 70 cases have been identified since August 10, with an acceleration from August 20.

Many of those infected are aged between 17 and 19 and health bosses are reminding youngsters of the need to behave responsibly – and also ask infected youths to be truthful about who they have been in contact with so others can be alerted.

Although case numbers are lower in some areas of Dacorum, residents across the whole borough are being asked to play their part.

Hertfordshire councillor Tim Hutchings, executive member for public health said: “We can confirm there are a significant number of positive COVID-19 cases across the Dacorum area – with a specific rise of cases in Hemel Hempstead.

“Existing self-isolation and testing measures have not been effective at managing to contain this local outbreak amongst the original group of young people (17-19yrs olds) in a small number of pubs and cafes in the Tring and Berkhamsted area.

“This has raised a few specific issues including: the importance continuing to self-isolate if they are a known contact (even if they have recently tested negative).

“We now need all residents in Dacorum to pay really close attention to this serious issue of the spread of COVID-19 within the local community.

“Specifically, if you think that you may have come into contact with someone with COVID-19 you should self-isolate for 14 days. If you are feeling unwell, you should call 119 or book a test at www.gov.uk/coronavirus.”

Mr McManus said: "We're at the stage of trying to nip this in the bud to stop it getting worse in Dacorum."

No lockdown restrictions are being implemented in Dacorum; however it is being watched closely and there is increased test and tracing taking place.

All pubs, cafes, bars, and restaurants are being written to reminding them of the importance of complying with the test and trace programme as well as ensure regular cleaning is taking place and customers are socially distancing where they can.

Three Rivers

The rate in Three Rivers remains stable with the rate currently sitting at 10.7 which is ten cases.

Most of these cases are in the Oxhey Hall & Hayling ward, where seven have been identified between August 23 and 29.

Hertfordshire

Mr McManus said Hertfordshire is experiencing the number of cases right now that the epidemiology was expecting.

It was also mentioned in the meeting that there have been very few deaths recently from Covid-19 in Hertfordshire, that new hospital admissions for the virus are “low”, and that the number of patients in critical care is “even lower”.

There are currently 28 Covid-19 patients in the east of England in hospital, with three on ventilation. In the UK, there are a total of 797 patients in hospital, including 82 on ventilation.

Throughout the pandemic, more than 1,000 deaths are being linked to Covid-19 in Hertfordshire with Hertsmere and Watford the worst affected.