How many Covid outbreaks in schools, workplaces and care homes in Bristol

More than 25 schools or early year settings had reported Covid outbreaks up to November 24.

Figures released bi-weekly by Bristol City Council also show three workplaces were managing positive cases, while 13 per cent of care homes had outbreaks or clusters.

It comes after 308 new cases were confirmed between Thursday and Friday last week - taking the total number of cases in the city to 75,439.

The infection rate in Bristol stood at 16,259 per 100,000 people - higher than the England average of 15,099.

Today, as concern mounts over the Omicron variant, with nine cases confirmed in the UK so far, the Government is expected to be recommended to roll-out the booster jab for all ages by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

Westminster is also set to bring in tighter restrictions which include wearing face masks on public transport and in shops.

And there is speculation schools could be finishing early this Christmas as efforts are stepped up to wrestle the continuing rising number of cases, especially among young people.

Bristol City Council publishes a bi-weekly report on Covid-19 in the city.

In it, it said 27 schools or early year settings had reported outbreaks of Covid among children or staff as of 24 November.

It also said three workplaces were managing cases and 13 per cent of care homes in the city had outbreaks - around 20 homes.

The report also said 106 people were in hospitals having tested positive for Covid as of November 24.

Latest figures show out of those who had tested positive over the seven days up to November 19, 46 per cent were aged 30 to 59, while 33 per cent were aged under 20.

The city council’s director of public health, Christina Gray, urged people to take precautionary measures, including wearing a face mask and meeting outdoors, to stop the spread of the virus last week.

She added: “Vaccination remains our best defence against Covid.... the more of us who are vaccinated, the better everyone is protected.”