THERE have been nearly 250 confirmed cases of Covid on the Isle of Wight today (Tuesday).

A further 243 Covid cases have been confirmed on the Island, according to the latest government data.

Today’s cases bring the Isle of Wight's total cases since the pandemic began to 28,280.

Always five days behind, the Island’s Covid rolling rate now stands at 801.1.

The age group with the highest rolling rate is 10 – 14-year-olds, with a rate of 2,468.5.

The UK national rate is 1,033.2.

According to Isle of Wight NHS Trust, there are now 24 patients are St Mary’s Hospital with Covid-19, with no one requiring the use of ventilation beds.

This recent surge of new cases is explained by a change in the way the government publishes its data.

Previously, people who tested positive twice were only counted one.

Now, a second infection is counted separately, as long as it's after 90 days.

Explaining the changes, the government said: "The new data shows that reinfection rates averaged around 1.4 per cent of cases until 16 November 2021, when a spike in infections took place following the emergence of the Omicron variant. 

"Following that increase in the number of people infected, reinfections rose – with reinfections now representing around 10 per cent of episodes per day."

Find out more here: More Covid deaths as cases surge explained by data change

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Lionel Richie has pulled out of the Isle of Wight Festival for 2022.

More here: Lionel Richie pulls out of Isle of Wight Festival over Covid