Hundreds of people have tested positive for coronavirus in Berkshire in the last 24 hours.

Three of our areas have recorded over 100 new cases of Covid-19.

The worst affected area has been the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, where 150 fresh cases were reported yesterday (November 23).

A high number of cases have also been reported in Wokingham, where 124 people tested positive for Covid-19 on that day, and 120 cases have been recorded in West Berkshire.

Reading recorded the lowest number of positive infections yesterday at 87 cases, whereas 91 cases were recorded in Slough and 93 in Bracknell Forest.

You can view the numbers of fresh cases in an interactive map here

Deaths November 6-12

Only two areas have not had any recent deaths of people who have tested positive for coronavirus recently.

Between November 6 and November 12, no Covid-19 ‘related’ deaths were reported in Slough or Bracknell Forest.

Sadly, two people died after testing positive in Reading in that period, with Wokingham, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and West Berkshire all seeing one person die in that week.

In total, 1,921 people have died in Berkshire after testing positive for Covid-19.

You can see an area breakdown in the table below.

Area

Total number of deaths after positive Covid-19 test

Slough

384

Reading

351

Windsor & Maidenhead

375

Wokingham

336

West Berkshire

272

Bracknell Forest

203

Vaccinations 

The majority of people in Berkshire have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine.

The areas with the least uptake are Reading and Slough, where just under 30 per cent of the population in each town have not had the first dose of a covid vacine.

The figures in the table below are accurate as of November 23. 

Area

vaccine dosage received % of population

1st vaccine

2nd vaccine

Slough

70.5

62

Reading

71.8

64.8

Windsor & Maidenhead

83.2

75.5

Wokingham

85.9

78.2

West Berkshire

87.2

79.7

Bracknell Forest

83.2

75.7

The figures come as restrictions on daily activities are looking increasingly unlikely.

On November 9, the UK Government updated its Autumn and Winter Plan.

It has two plans for managing the situation over the winter.

The preferred option, Plan A, involves things carrying on as normal, the Government continuing its push for younger people to get vaccinated and those eligible to get third ‘booster’ jabs.

However, if there is an rapid increase in hospitalisations and case numbers, the Government could enact its Plan B, which would involve re-introducing the compulsory mask wearing in some settings, encouraging people to work from home again, and introducing controversial vaccine passports.

The Government’s approach is in stark contrast to those taken elsewhere in Europe.

Austria and the Netherlands have gone into full lockdowns and have imposed restrictions on people who have not taken coronavirus vaccines.

This time last year, the country was under a second lockdown which ran from November 5 to December 2.

During that period, all non-essential shops were closed, but schools remained open.

Pubs, clubs, restaurants and other entertainment venues were closed, with eateries only open for a takeaway and delivery.