Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reasons for the above-average incidence of COVID-19 infections in Corby in February and March; and what assessment they have made of the efficacy of restrictions in place to reduce transmission of COVID-19.

Variation in the number of COVID-19 cases is caused by a number of factors including demography, behaviour and rate of testing. Corby has higher levels of people living in areas of deprivation. Living and working conditions for these groups contribute to increased transmission rates. A large proportion of working age people in Corby have jobs which require them to attend their workplaces, increasing the risk of transmission. It is an area with multi-generational families who live in proximity with potential for household mixing.

There was an increased level of local enforcement of COVID-19 restrictions during February and March. Case numbers have fallen in this period which from 294 cases per 100,000 population at the start of March to 183 on 24 March.