Sunderland has highest number of coronavirus cases per population in England - this what experts say could be behind that

Sunderland has the highest rate of coronavirus infections in England, says a national thinktank.
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Centre for Cities says the latest figures from Public Health England show the city has more than 370 cases per 100,000 people. In England and Wales, only Cardiff and Newport has a greater concentration of cases.

Experts at Centre for Cities say that people living in cities – where populations are more concentrated – are at higher risk, but other factors may also play a part in people being admitted to hospital and so getting tested and registering in the official figures.

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The majority of those included in the Public Health England figures have become so unwell with the virus that they have needed medical treatment and were therefore tested for the illness in hospital.

Sunderland has the highest number of coronavirus cases per population according to figures from Public Health England analysed by the Centre for Cities thinktankSunderland has the highest number of coronavirus cases per population according to figures from Public Health England analysed by the Centre for Cities thinktank
Sunderland has the highest number of coronavirus cases per population according to figures from Public Health England analysed by the Centre for Cities thinktank

Older people, who generally have a weaker immune system and a higher rate of underlying chronic illnesses, are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 and Sunderland has an aged population.

The latest available figures – from 2018 – show 13.7% of Sunderland’s population is aged over 70.

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Sunderland-born Centre for Cities spokesman Paul Swinney (pictured) said the reasons for the spike were not immediately obvious: “It is not exactly clear why Sunderland has has the highest number of confirmed cases per head of population.

Paul Swinney of Centre for Cities (left) and Sunderland’s Director of Public Health, Gillian Gibson say that a higher number of people seeking hospital treatment for coronavirus, and therefore being tested for it, could be behind the figuresPaul Swinney of Centre for Cities (left) and Sunderland’s Director of Public Health, Gillian Gibson say that a higher number of people seeking hospital treatment for coronavirus, and therefore being tested for it, could be behind the figures
Paul Swinney of Centre for Cities (left) and Sunderland’s Director of Public Health, Gillian Gibson say that a higher number of people seeking hospital treatment for coronavirus, and therefore being tested for it, could be behind the figures
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“When we look across cities, it seems to be concentrated in places that have higher levels of wage deprivation and in places where people have to go to work because it is hard to do their job from home.

“It underlines the fact we need to make sure that, if at all possible, people stay at home and stay safe because we can see this quite dramatic rise is costing lives across Wearside.”

Sunderland Director of Public Health Gillian Gibson said the council is aware of the high number of cases in the area and said this reflects the numbers of people getting hospital treatment.

She said: “Our population has historically made higher than average use of hospital services and, given that the testing strategy in recent weeks has been focused on those in hospital, this could be contributing to finding a greater number of cases.

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“We continue to collect and analyse data, working with Public Health England and our NHS partners to improve our understanding.”

Ms Gibson said authorities believe that Sunderland could be approaching the peak of coronavirus cases, but further data would be needed to be certain of that.

She said: “Latest data on the number of cases suggests that the rate of increase has slowed.

“We may be approaching the peak of the epidemic locally, but would need to see this sustained over a number of days to be certain.”

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