THERE has been a dramatic rise in cases of coronavirus in Brighton and Hove including older people in the city.

The city's director of public health, Alistair Hill, said he is "very concerned" after it was revealed the infection rate had increased by 46 per cent in a week.

The health chief said warned residents they must do their part to "stop Covid spreading out of control in the city”.

READ MORE: Sussex areas with weekly coronavirus rates of more than 200

In the week leading up to November 12, based on data published yesterday, there were a further 519 confirmed new cases in the city.

Mr Hill said: "When we reported the drop in numbers last week, I warned it was too early to say that this would be sustained.

"Unfortunately, the numbers of confirmed cases of Covid-19 are again going up among all age groups.

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Health chief Alistair Hill 

"There was a 57 per cent increase among the 40 to 59 age group and a 50 per cent increase among those aged 60 and older.

"We are very concerned about the increased risk to our older residents who are most likely to be severely affected by Covid-19."

The city now has an equivalent to a weekly rate of new cases of 178.4 per 100,000 residents.

That is lower than the rate for England, which is 272.9 per 100,000, and similar to the South East, which has a rate of 178.7.

He said: "It has been suggested some of the increase in cases seen nationally in the last week reflects extra social interaction in the period leading up to the national lockdown.

"This highlights why the lockdown guidelines to stay home and to avoid meeting people outside your household, except where allowed, are so necessary to stop Covid spreading out of control in our city.

"With such high stakes, we must all take this second lockdown as seriously as the first one.

"We are already two weeks in with only a short time left to play your part in helping to reduce the numbers of cases in our city.”

The council’s Community Hub can provide support and advice for all residents, especially people who need to self-isolate.

If you or anyone you know needs help during this difficult time, please don’t hesitate to contact at https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/request-help-yourself-or-someone-else.