Coronavirus cases have dropped significantly in Watford but remain high as Covid-19 restrictions ease.

Last week Prime Minister Boris Johnson immediately halted the ‘Plan B’ advice for people to work from home, if possible.

And he signalled that from Thursday (January 27) face coverings would no longer be mandatory in public places and Covid passports would be dropped.

But whilst data suggests we have passed the peak of the Omicron variant as cases fall, Hertfordshire’s director of public health Jim McManus – who is also president of the Association of Directors of Public Health – is urging caution.

What is the situation in Watford?

Data shows that cases started to fall from January 4, when the town had recorded a record 2,016 cases per 100,000 population in the seven days to that date.

The latest figures show that in the week to January 18, the town had an infection rate of 1,246 per 100,000 population.

And it’s a similar story for every other district in Hertfordshire, with cases plunging since January 4.

Whilst this is positive, cases still remain high, with Watford still having the highest case rate in the county.

You can see the latest rate for your area below:

In Watford, the neighbourhoods seeing the highest cases in the week to January 18 are Central Watford (150), Holywell (139) and Garston (138).

You can see how cases are looking in your postcode in the table below:

Meanwhile in Three Rivers, the areas with the highest number of cases include Leavesden and Garston Manor (132), Croxley Green (116) and Oxhey Hall and Hayling (105).

You can see the latest case rate for your area below:

Meanwhile, latest data shows that as of January 18, there were 90 patients being cared for by the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, including seven on ventilation beds.

This was an increase from 82 reported on January 16.

Urging caution as restrictions are scrapped, Mr McManus said: “As restrictions are lifted, we want people to remain cautious and not to be complacent.

“We are still seeing high numbers of cases and people needing hospital treatment in Hertfordshire.

“We are urging people who have not been vaccinated or had their booster jabs, to do so as soon as possible, it remains the best way to protect themselves and others from getting seriously ill.

“NHS data shows that unvaccinated people who get COVID-19 are about eight times more likely to be hospitalised than those who are fully vaccinated.”

Mr McManus says behaviour change and high numbers of people coming forward for booster jabs have been key to the way “we have got through this latest surge in cases”.

He added: “We are also encouraging residents to continue testing regularly with LFTs, to take a PCR test if they have symptoms, and to wear face coverings in crowded and enclosed spaces where they may come into contact with people they do not normally meet.

“The pandemic has not ended, so as we move to this new phase of living safely with COVID-19, let’s keep looking out for one another and recognise that we’re all going to be moving forward at our own pace.”