The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 has risen sharply in Cambridgeshire.

According to preliminary government data, there were 89 confirmed cases in Cambridgeshire in the week ending September 25, rising to 236 in the week ending October 2.

There were 51 cases recorded across the county on September 30, more than on any day since May 11, although the testing capacity has increased since then.

The figures come from daily Public Health England data, for which the latest update was published on Monday (October 5).

The figures are recorded by specimen date – when the Covid-19 test was taken – and are subject to revision as the results are processed and cases are backdated.

This means the total for any one day may well rise further as cases from specimens taken on that day are processed and the data is revised.

Data for Peterborough is calculated separately.

A spokesperson for Public Health England said the data has been amended to take into account and backdate the missed cases caused by a technical error between September 25 and October 2.

The figures show a rise across all districts in the county.

In Cambridge, there were 21 confirmed cases in the week ending September 25, rising to 43 in the week ending October 2.

In South Cambridgeshire, there were 22 confirmed cases in the week ending September 25, rising to 68 in the week ending October 2.

In East Cambridgeshire, there were five confirmed cases in the week ending September 25, rising to 12 in the week ending October 2.

In Huntingdonshire, there were 32 confirmed cases in the week ending September 25, rising to 79 in the week ending October 2.

And in Fenland, there were nine confirmed cases in the week ending September 25, rising to 34 in the week ending October 2.

More complete data for this time period, with analysis including infection rates per 100,000 people, will be published by the county’s public health intelligence team later this week.

The Director of Public Health for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Liz Robin, said: “Cases of coronavirus are rising across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, as they are nationally.

“Our rate of coronavirus cases per 100,000 population are currently below the national average, but this is not a cause for complacency.

“It is critical that people follow the rules and don’t throw away all the good work that has taken place up until now to keep rates of the virus down.

“In particular we need people to limit their contact with others and to self-isolate if they have symptoms, or someone they live with has symptoms, or if they are asked to self-isolate as a result of being in close contact with someone who has tested positive.

“Keep your distance from people you don’t live with, wear face coverings in shops, on public transport and in other locations where there are lots of people and remember to wash your hands regularly.

“Cases of coronavirus are increasing in Cambridgeshire, but if we do all of this then we can reduce its spread and keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.”

Dr Robin told the county’s local outbreak engagement board on Monday (October 5) that the number of deaths “remain at a low level”.

But she warned “higher number of cases moves through to higher hospitalisations which then moves through to higher death rates depending on whether the people who are most vulnerable to Covid are catching the infection”.