The number of people who live in Borehamwood and Elstree and have tested positive for coronavirus has risen as the new more infectious strain of Covid sweeps across Hertfordshire and London.

An increase in coronavirus cases has been reported across the whole of Borehamwood since early to mid-December, with three out of four wards in the town among the 20 highest in south west Hertfordshire.

Government figures also show cases are also on the rise in Radlett and Potters Bar, neighbouring areas of London, and extremely high in Bushey.

Watford General Hospital is “very busy” and under “extreme pressure”, according to West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust and Hertfordshire’s director of public health, Jim McManus.

Residents are being urged to follow the Tier 4 rules in place to help bring down the level of cases locally.

How many cases are there in Borehamwood?

Collectively, between December 11 and 18, 192 Borehamwood residents received a positive Covid result.

We don’t know for sure how many people in the town had Covid during the first peak because testing was limited – but what we do know is 192 cases in a week is the highest the town has ever seen, by a major distance, since testing became available to anyone with symptoms.

Hillside ward recorded the most cases with 62, followed by Brookmeadow with 47, 42 in Cowley Hill and 38 in Kenilworth.

What about the rest of Hertsmere?

Hertsmere has the second highest weekly case rate in Hertfordshire, and 36th highest in England at 637.6 cases per 100,000 population – double the previous week and nearly six times higher than when the borough went into November’s lockdown.

The rate is mainly pushed by significant case numbers in Bushey Central and Bushey Heath, but Elstree, Radlett and Potters Bar have also seen a rise.

The rolling case rate in Bushey Central is currently nearly the highest in the whole country.

Borehamwood Times:

It wasn't too long ago this map, showing Borehamwood and surrounding areas, was white, green or light blue, before a surge in cases

Figures show the ages of those in Hertsmere with Covid are still mainly teenagers and those aged in their 40s but the borough has recently seen an increase in people in their 20s and 30s testing positive.

Worryingly, there has also been a notable increase in people in Hertsmere aged in their late 80s getting the virus – but the rate, as of December 18, was lower than younger age groups.

So how busy are the hospitals?

Hemel Hempstead MP Sir Mike Penning said as of Monday, there were 180 Covid patients at Watford General, which is more than ever before.

He added the NHS currently has a “significant number” of frontline staff away from work due to Covid.

The Royal Free NHS Trust, which runs Barnet Hospital and two other sites in north London, had 140 Covid patients as of December 18.

Due to a rise in Covid patients, all non-urgent planned procedures/operations and non-urgent and consultant led out-patient services at the Royal Free have been temporarily paused.

When could cases in Hertfordshire come down?

Hertfordshire County Council has said the new infectious Covid strain is in Hertfordshire, which is why the county has seen such a sudden increase in cases.

Public health director Jim McManus reported on December 20 it was estimated the new strain is becoming the predominant type spreading in many of the areas of our region and London, responsible for close to 60 per cent of new cases.

The virus is thought to be more easily spread from person to person - various estimates are stated that it is about 50 to 75 per cent more transmissible than the dominant Covid strain that has been circulating for months.

There is no clinical evidence yet to ascertain whether the impact on people infected with the new strain is the same, better or worse, but the vaccine does work, Mr McManus said.

Mr McManus is “hopeful” infection rates will start to reduce in Hertfordshire over the New Year period.

He said the spread of the new strain will be curbed if the strict Tier 4 measures “are really adhered to”.

Read more: When Herts Covid rates might start to come down, if people follow rules

People are being urged to avoid busy supermarkets and stick to the basic rules like wearing a face covering, sanitising hands, and social distancing, as well as follow Tier 4 rules.

Hertsmere Borough Council leader Morris Bright says as we head into Christmas and New Year, residents need to "keep going" and "listening and obeying the rules".

Meanwhile, rapid testing is set to be introduced in the new year across Hertfordshire for people with no coronavirus symptoms only.

The quick turn-around tests were launched in Broxbourne, the worst affected area of Hertfordshire, earlier this week and are set to be rolled out across the rest of the county in the coming weeks.

Read more: Rapid testing to be rolled out in Hertfordshire for people with NO covid symptoms