THERE were 317 new confirmed positive Covid tests in South Somerset in the latest Government figures reported today (Friday, January 7).

In the week between January 1 and today, 2,191 people tested positive for the virus, an increase of 47.6 per cent on the previous seven day period.

By yesterday (January 6):

140,478 people had been given a first dose of the vaccine;

131,857 people had received a second dose;

107,395 people had been given a booster or third dose.

Across the South West, 140 people with coronavirus went into hospital on Wednesday (January 5).

Between December 30 and January 5, 953 people in the region went into hospital with coronavirus, an increase of 19.1 per cent compared to the previous seven days.

There were 867 patients in hospital in the South West with coronavirus today (Friday), of which 54 are on a mechanical ventilator.

The have been two deaths of people testing positive for Covid within the previous 28 days in South Somerset in the first week of 2022.