MORE children aged 10 to 14 are catching Covid in the Basingstoke and Deane area than any other age group, according to government figures.

The rate of cases (people who have had at least one positive Covid-19 test result) per 100,000 people in the rolling seven-day period ending on October 29 for the age group 10 to 14 was 1,686.

Cases peaked in the borough for this age group in the week up to October 19, when the rate was 2,439.

Positive Covid-19 cases for 10 to 14-year-olds in Basingstoke and Deane has been increasing since the schools returned after the summer holidays.

The figures show that on September 1, the rate of cases for 10 to 14-year-olds in the borough was 421, before sharply rising to 1,551 by September 20.

Covid-19 cases in children aged five to nine has also been increasing in the town since the return of schools in September, rising from a rate of 284 on September 1 to 451 on September 20.

The most recent figures, for the week up to October 29, show that the rate of Covid cases for children aged five to nine in the borough was 660.

For secondary school and college pupils in the 15 to 19 age category, figures show that for the same period, the rate of cases was 714.

This was a decrease on the previous week up to October 22, when it was 1,094.

The latest figures also show a higher rate of positive cases in the 40 to 44 age category in Basingstoke and Deane compared to other age groups, with a rate of 699 in the week up to October 29.