A Norfolk town has been revealed as the country's current Covid hotspot, with more cases per head than any other area in England and Wales.

The latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency - the government's health protection body - show a total of more than 12,000 new cases of the disease were recorded in England in the week up to October 14.

This follows an uptick in recent cases caused by the new Pirola variant which is prompting fears of a "twindemic" as the country heads into winter, with the NHS resuming its booster jab drive for vulnerable adults. 

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According to the agency's data, Great Yarmouth is the current Covid hotspot with more than double the national rate of cases at 54.4 per 100,000.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Great Yarmouth has seen the highest number of new cases in the country, according to government dataGreat Yarmouth has seen the highest number of new cases in the country, according to government data (Image: OpenMapTiles/gov.uk)

James Paget Hospital in Gorleston continues to operate normally, with no requirements for facemasks or public-use PPE.

While overall case numbers are down, infection rates in Norfolk have seen a sharp rise in recent months. 

In September, a Norfolk care home found itself the epicentre of a Pirola outbreak. 

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Shipdham Manor, near Dereham, confirmed that of the 34 recorded cases of the variant in the UK at that time, 28 had been detected at the home. 

This meant that 82pc of all cases in the country were at the site.