NEW Covid-19 cases have increased across the Liverpool City Region according to latest government data.

In the seven days up to September 9, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reported how 353 new cases of Coronavirus were recorded across the six local authority areas. More than 11,600 cases have been reported across England during the seven day period, an increase of almost 30%.

The rising number of cases of Coronavirus has led to the government in England rolling out the latest booster jabs earlier than planned in care homes.

During the seven day period, the highest number of cases were reported in Liverpool with 95 reported during the dataset up to September 9. This represented a decline of six cases based on the previous period and a drop of 6%.

A total of 79 cases were recorded in Wirral, an increase of 11% and up a further eight based on the last week. A 29% jump was noted in Knowsley as 36 fresh cases were reported.

Additionally, 75 positive tests were returned in Sefton, marking an increase of nine or 14%. Figures were lower in Halton and St Helens, with a decrease in cases on the previous seven days of 13 and 16% respectively recorded.

A total of 27 and 41 positive cases were noted in both local authority areas.

Reports last week indicated how Covid-19 hospital admissions in England are at their highest rate since the end of April, in sign the virus is likely to be circulating more widely once again. The sped up booster rollout has been brought forward as a precaution against the latest Omicron subvariant of Covid-19, BA.2.86, which was first identified in the UK on August 18.

But it is still too early to assess the impact of the new strain, with scientists saying they need more data before drawing “firm conclusions”. Hospital admissions of patients who tested positive for Covid-19 stood at 4.6 per 100,000 people in the week to September 10, up from 3.7 per 100,000 the previous week and the highest since the week ending April 30.