The ‘deprived’ area of Sheffield with the HIGHEST rates of Covid-19 in the country

As of April 1, figures made available on Public Health England have shown that Crabtree and Fir Vale has an infection rate of 445.2 per 100,000 people in seven days, with a total active cases of 44.

This is an increase of 18 cases or 69.2 per cent from the previous week.

Head of Performance and Intelligence Louise Brewins said although many of the cases in the area were associated with care homes previously, but this is no longer the case.

She explained: “This is quite a small geographical area (known as an MSOA) so numbers and rates will vary widely and sporadically especially as overall prevalence reduces.

"(Now) the latest figures show 45 cases in Crabtree and Firvale MSOA, an increase of 22 cases from last week.

"School and other targeted testing impacts on recorded cases in specific areas and inflates the numbers.

"This is a deprived area and had more cases than less deprived areas to begin with. Additional testing will quickly increase the numbers and pick up any positive cases rapidly so that people can self-isolate and reduce the spread of the virus in the area.

"Earlier in the pandemic many of the cases in this area were associated with care homes (residents and staff) which is no longer the case.

"The largest proportion of cases are in younger age groups now."

It has been reported that Crabtree and Fir Vale has had the most coronavirus deaths in the country since the pandemic began.

A total of 66 people died between March and May, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics – nearly twice as many as in any other part of England and Wales.

Greg Fell, director for Public Health Sheffield said the figures were high due to the number of care homes in the area.

He said it was also one of the more socioeconomically deprived parts of the city and deaths from COVID-19 are closely related to deprivation.