Covid rate falls and Isle of Wight turns blue

Numbers of new cases have slowed over the past couple of weeks and now the average  has dropped enough for the Island to change colour on the government's interactive map.

It has gone from dark to light purple, and is now dark blue.

In data published at 4pm yesterday (Thursday), in the seven days to January 23, there were 393.6 cases of coronavirus per 100,000.

• See the map HERE

Compare that to January 9, when the average rate per 100,000 Islanders was 1,110.2.

In the seven days to January 14 it stood at 778.7. 

• Deep purple for Isle of Wight as Covid-19 cases climb
• Dark to light: Colour change shows Covid cases trend

At its peak, earlier this month, the Island was in the top five for areas in the UK with the highest number of new Covid-19 cases.

On January 3, 459 new coronavirus cases were added to the Isle of Wight's overall total, with many days this month where hundreds of cases were added to the tally daily.

• Covid outlook brighter but don't let down guard — Isle of Wight health chief

Medical professionals on the Island warn that hospitalisations and deaths lag behind the daily case updates, however, and the number of people dying on the Isle of Wight has been climbing.

• Deaths, recoveries and bed data — 78 Covid patients now at St Mary's Hospital
• 'We're still at the eye of Covid storm' says St Mary's chief

As of yesterday (Thursday), 173 people had died on the Isle of Wight - 114 at St Mary's Hospital and 59 in care homes, at home and in the hospice.

In January alone, 58 people have died so far, making this the worst month on record for coronavirus deaths on the Isle of Wight.

In September, the Island's cases rate per 100,000 people sat at just 4.2.   

• Covid cases: Thursday's daily update for the Isle of Wight