Parts of north and north-west Norfolk saw the region's biggest rise in coronavirus cases in the week up to Christmas.

New government data broken down by local area shows case numbers doubled or even tripled in parts of Norfolk and north Suffolk as cases nationally continue to surge.

The figures are relatively small, but areas that have seen the biggest percentage increase include Wells and Blakeney with 17 cases in total (up 142pc); Cromer with 16 cases (up 300pc) and Mundesley, Trunch and Bacton with 11 cases (up 450pc).

The data shows that although the virus has spread to all parts of the region, case numbers are still low in some communities and in some areas cases even appear to be decreasing.

North Norfolk District Council has said people should heed the Tier 4 guidelines around ‘staying local’ and urged them not to visit for exercise.

Fakenham & Wells Times: Liberal Democrat council leader Sarah Bütikofer. Picture: North Norfolk District CouncilLiberal Democrat council leader Sarah Bütikofer. Picture: North Norfolk District Council (Image: North Norfolk District Council)
Sarah Bütikofer, council leader, said it was important to keep the figures in perspective.

Mrs Bütikofer said: “Any increase is unwelcome and one case is too many. When you hear these numbers they can sound enormous but many areas are starting from a very low base.

“We’re doing everything we can to put the message out to people to act responsibly, wear a mask, wash your hands and do everything you can to stop the spread of the virus.

Fakenham & Wells Times: The latest figures on coronavirus in Stevenage and North Herts have been published.The latest figures on coronavirus in Stevenage and North Herts have been published. (Image: Archant)

“We’re asking people to stay local and not travel a long distance to take exercise, or particularly not to visit holiday homes.”

Mrs Bütikofer said north Norfolk had some of the worst ambulance response times in the country. “It is really important that we don’t put extra strain on the system,” she said.

Fakenham & Wells Times: Cromer Pier. Picture: David BaleCromer Pier. Picture: David Bale (Image: Archant)
The district council has closed Cromer Pier to “send a signal” that visitors were not welcome in north Norfolk while the virus was spreading so quickly.

But Mrs Bütikofer acknowledged people would come anyway and said council-run car parks would stay open to reduce the impact on on-street parking.

Other large increases were recorded in Bawdeswell, Swanton Morley and North Elmham with 14 cases (up by 366.7pc); Lowestoft Harbour and Kirkley with 14 cases (up by 250pc); Yarmouth North with 13 cases (up by 333pc) and Thetford North with eight cases (up by 300pc).

Areas that saw a decrease in case numbers included Worlingham and Barnby with three cases (down by 66.7pc); Gorleston South and Beach with 13 cases (down by 35pc) and Stalham and Sea Palling with nine cases (down by 35.7pc).

In Norwich, Hellesdon South East saw the biggest increase with 30 total cases (up by 150pc) but there was a significant decrease in University and Avenues with 14 cases (down by 33pc).


Other figures show the number of patients with the virus in the region’s hospital beds rose by 50pc in a single week - there were 3,111 Covid patients in the east of England hospitals as of December 30 - up from 2,085 the previous week.

Meanwhile, the coronavirus vaccination programme continues apace, with Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in King’s Lynn now joining James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and GP surgeries across the region in administering the jab.

Coronavirus case numbers for the seven days up to December 25

Norwich - 386 cases in total, up by 24 (6.6pc)

Bowthorpe and West Earlham, 33 cases, no change

University and Avenues, 14 cases, down by 7 (-33pc)

Hellesdon North West, 14 cases, down by 5 (-26.3pc)

Hellesdon South East, 30 cases, up by 18 (+150pc)

Catton Grove and Airport, 30 cases, down by 6 (-16.7pc)

Mile Cross, 25 cases, down by 2 (-7.4pc)

New Catton and Moushold North, 34 cases, up by 4 (+13.3pc)

Heartsease and Pilling Park, 53 cases, down by 18 (-25.4pc)

Thorpe Hamlet and Mousehold South, 10 cases, up by 1 (+11.1pc)

City Centre West, 33 cases, up by 15 (+83.3pc)

Earlham Road and College Road, 19 cases, down by 9 (-32.1pc)

Eaton, 23 cases, up by 7 (+43.8pc)

Lakenham and Tuckswood, 24 cases, up by 6 (+33.3pc)

City Centre East, 15 cases, up by 1 (+7.1pc)

Town Close, 24 cases, up by 9 (+60pc)

North Norfolk - 244 cases in total, up by 62 (38.3pc)

Wells and Blakeney, 17 cases, up by 10 (+142.9pc)

Walsingham and Raynham 15 cases, up by 5 (+50pc)

Fakenham, 36 cases, up by 17 (+89.5pc)

Melton Constable, Briston and Little Snoring, 10 cases, down by 2 (-16.7pc)

Holt and Weybourne, 6 cases, up by 2 (+50pc)

Beeston Regis, Saxthorpe and Aldborough, 4 cases, down by 4 (-50pc)

Sheringham, nine cases, down by 1 (-10pc)

Overstrand, Roughton and the Runtons, 8 cases, down by 1 (-11.1pc)

Cromer, 16 cases, up by 12 (+300pc)

Mundesley, Trunch and Bacton, 11 cases, up by 9 (+450pc)

Felingham, Worsteead and Happisburgh, 34 cases, up by 12 (+54.5pc)

North Walsham, 33 cases, no change

Stalham and Sea Palling, 9 cases, down by 5 (-35.7pc)

Hoveton, Horning and Potter Heigham, 16 cases, up by 8 (+100pc)

King's Lynn and West Norfolk - 391 cases in total, up by 52 (15.3pc)

Brancaster, Burnham Market and Docking: 26 cases, up by 13 (+100pc)

Hunstanton: 12 cases, down by 1 (-7.7pc)

Heacham and Snettisham: 34 cases, up by 9 (+36pc)

Dersingham, Sandringham and Massingham: 7 cases, up by 2 (+40pc)

Wotton: 21 cases, up by 1 (+5pc)

North Lynn: 19 cases, up by 9 (+90pc)

Gaywood North Bank: 30 cases, down by 4 (-11.8pc)

Fairstead and Springwood, 41 cases, down by 8 (-16.3pc)

Gaywood Chase and Old Gaywood, 23 cases, down by 6 (-20.7pc)

Town, South Lynn and West Lynn, 20 cases, up by 2 (+11.1pc)

North Winch, Marham and Shouldham, 13 cases, down by 3 (-18.8pc)

Stoke Ferry, Hilgay and Wimbotsham, 11 cases, down by 2 (-15.4pc)

Southery, Feltwell and Hockwold, 10 cases, up by 5 (100pc)

Grimston, Gayton and East Winch, 13 cases, no change

Downham Market, 26 cases, up by 11 (+73.3pc)

Broadland - 372 cases total, up by 84 (+29.2pc)

Reepham, Cawston and Lenwade, 16 cases, up by 9 (+128pc)

Aylsham, 16 cases, up by 8 (+100pc)

Coltishall, Buxton and Frettenham, 11 cases, up by 6 (+120pc)

Wroxham, Rackheath and the Plumsteads, 18 cases, no change

Horsford, Hainford and Hevingham, 32 cases, up by 10 (+45.5pc)

Taverham, 27 cases, down by 6 (-18.2pc)

Drayton and Thorpe Marriot, 21 cases, down by 6 (-22.2pc)

Sprowston Central, 20 cases, up by 7 (+53.8pc)

Sprowston East, 18 cases, up by 2 (+12.5pc)

Old Catton, 29 cases, up by 15 (+107.1pc)

Blofield, Lingwood and Upton, 20 cases, up by 9 (+81.8pc)

Brundall and Cantley, 26 cases, up by 11 (+73.3pc)

Thorpe St Andrew North, 21 cases, up by 8 (+61.5pc)

Thorpe St Andrew South and Dussindale, 24 cases, down by 3 (-11.1pc)

Acle and Reedham, 17 cases, up by 2 (13.3pc)

South Norfolk - 368 cases in total, up by 133 (+56.6pc)

Costessey and Queens Hills, 48 cases, up by 18 (+60pc)

Cringleford, Little Melton and Easton, 42 cases, up by 4 (+10.5 pc)

Trowse, Poringland and Stoke Holy Cross, 26 cases, up by 6 (+30pc)

Loddon, Surlingham and Alpington, 9 cases, down by 1 (-10pc)

Hingham, Morley and Barnham Broom, 8 cases, up by 1 (+14.3pc)

Hethersett, 14 cases, up by 3 (+27.3pc)

Wymondham West, 14 cases, up by 9 (+180pc)

Wymondham East and Spooner Row, 31 cases, up by 10 (+47.6pc)

Mulbarton, Tasburgh and Saxlingham Nethergate, 42 cases, up by 18 (+75pc)

Long Stratton, Carleton Rode and Tibenham, 25 cases, up by 2 (+8.7pc)

Harleston and Pulham, 33 cases, up by 19 (+135.7pc)

Scole, Dickleburgh and Bressingham, 13 cases, up by 7 (+116.7pc)

Diss and Roydon, 21 cases, up by 15 (+250pc)

Thurlton, Haddiscoe and Geldeston, 6 cases, down by 2 (-25pc)

Hempnall, Ditchingham and Wortwell, 36 cases, up by 24 (+200pc)

Great Yarmouth - 212 cases in total, up by 15 (7.6pc)

Fleggburgh, Rollesby and Martham, 14 cases, no change

Hemsby and Ormesby, 17 cases, down by 10 (-37pc)

Caister on Sea, 18 cases, up by 6 (+50pc)

Yarmouth Central and Northgate, 22 cases, up by 12 (+120pc)

Yarmouth North, 13 cases, up by 10 (+333pc)

Southtown and Cobholm, 19 cases, up by 7 (+58.3pc)

Bradwell North, 12 cases, down by 4 (-25pc)

Belton, 14 cases, up by 7 (+100pc)

Bradwell South and Hopton, 13 cases, down by 13 (-50pc)

Gorleston West, 17 cases, down by 1 (-5.6pc)

Gorleston South and Beach, 13 cases, down by 7 (-35pc)

Breckland - 323 cases in total, up by 88 (+37.4pc)

Whissonsett, Litcham and Narborough, 33 cases, up by 22 (+200pc)

Bawdeswell, Swanton Morley and North Elmham, 14 cases, up by 11 (+366.7pc)

Dereham North and Neatherd, 24 cases, up by 8 (+50pc)

Dereham West, Necton and Gressenhall, 17 cases, no change

Swaffham, 36 cases, up by 2 (+5.9pc)

Mundford, Weeting and Forest, 16 cases, up by 6 (+60pc)

Wayland, Ellingham and Great Hockham, 17 cases, up by 5 (41.7pc)

Attleborough, 18 cases, up by 2 (+12.5pc)

Buckenhams and Snetterton, 1 cases, up by 3 (+33.3pc)

East Harling, Garboldisham and Kenningham, 22 cases, up by 12 (+120pc)

Thetford South, 12 cases, up by 8 (+200pc)

Thetford North, 8 cases, up by 6 (+300pc)

Thetford Central and East, 22 cases, up by 1 (+4.8pc)

West Suffolk - 418 cases in total, up by 72 (+20.8pc)

Lakenheath, 9 cases, no change

Brandon, 14 cases, up by 5 (+55.6pc)

East Suffolk, 412 cases in total, up by 17 (+4.3pc)

Bungay and the Saints, 14 cases, up by 5 (+55.6pc)

Worlingham and Barnby, 3 cases, down by 6 (-66.7pc)

Beccles, 8 cases, down by 1 (-11.1pc)

Gunton East, Corton and Somerleyton, 12 cases, up by 2 (+20pc)

Carlton Colville, 15 cases, down by 1 (-6.2pc)

Oulton, 16 cases, up by 2 (+14.3pc)

Gunton West, 13 cases, up by 3 (+30pc)

Oulton Broad West, 7 cases, down by 3 (-30pc)

Normanston and Oulton Broad East, 5 cases, down by 5 (-50pc)

Pakefield North, 4 cases, down by 3 (-42.9pc)

Lowestoft Harbour and Kirkley, 14 cases, up by 10 (+250pc)

Lowestoft Central, 12 cases, up by 1 (+9.1pc)

Pakefield South and Kessingland, 13 cases, up by 8 (+160pc)

Southwold, Reydon and Wrentham, 5 cases, no change