This week to 3 November October, there were 3,166 new confirmed cases of COVID 19 in Somerset. It is significantly lower than last two weeks. Nevertheless the case load for the week is still the third highest for our bit of Somerset this year.

The table below tracks the overall weekly number of infections in Somerset in recent weeks.

• 3,166 to 3 November
• 4,342 to 27 October
• 4,687 to 20 October
• 2.195 to 13 October
• 2,260 to 6 October
• 1,876 to 29 September
• 1,453 to 22 September
• 1,432 to 15 September
• 2,148 to 8 September
• 2,132 to 1 September
• 2,763 to 25 August
• 1,911 to 18 August
• 1,481 to 11 August
• 1,407 to 4 August
• 1,285 to 28 July
• 2,056 to 21 July
• 989 to 14 July
• 470 to 7 July

For the last two weeks the majority of Somerset had a caseload in excess of 500 per 100,000 population. This week there are signs that the latest uptick in cases is dampening down.

The hotspot is still Taunton but with 389 cases compared with 600 last week. Please note localised cases are reported in 2 weekly tranches. So when comparing the numbers, we are comparing the number of cases per fortnight, this week against last week.

All the larger towns had a lower incidence of COVID cases than last week. Bridgwater too saw a big fall with243 new cases compared to 331 last week Frome too saw a big fall in case numbers with 234 cases this week compared to 368 lat. Yeovil saw a smaller decline, 350 new cases compared to 387 last week. However most of West Somerset and the area around Wells has fallen to levels below 500 cases per 100,000.

Before we go any further however, our usual health warning about the figures.  Unlike NHS data these numbers include care homes and incidences of COVID 19 “at home”. The data is prepared to 3 November for cases (although different dates are used for some of the other figures – for instance deaths are reported to 22 October). The reason for this delay is to keep the numbers accurate – or should we say as accurate as possible. The daily totals published by the NHS are subject to constant revision, as not unreasonably, the data is constantly being updated to improve accuracy. It is also worth noting that the SCC area does not include North Somerset (so Weston hospital) or BANES (So the RUH in Bath) both of which are separate administrative areas.

Thankfully the number of deaths recorded this week has fallen back to 4. That compares with 10 last week. Once again we can only offer our sympathy to the friends and families of those who have lost loved ones to the pandemic. Of the 4 deaths recorded, 2 were in hospital, 2 in a care home setting.

If the number of deaths has fallen, the rise in hospitalisations has continued this week. There are now over 80 people in either Musgrove or Yeovil hospitals. The majority are in Musgrove. That is up from 60 last week. We should note that being in hospital does not mean the patient is in intensive care.

The R number is still reported at 0.9-1.1 which as we have said many times, is meaningless. A number below 1 shows infection numbers are falling, above 1 they are rising. So a range of 0.9-1.1 is telling us nothing.

The vaccination of the under 18 cohort continues slowly, but is at last picking up pace. Although the total vaccinated remains at just over 10%. However 1,886 young people were vaccinated in the last week.

As ever here is the full dataset so you can form your own conclusions: