Ledbury has lost its brief, official clean bill of health when it comes to Covid infections, but the infection rate is still low, when compared with the national average.

In another move, health officials are planning Covid tests in Ledbury, Bromyard and other market towns, this winter.

Last week, according to an interactive Government map, Ledbury had been officially free from Covid cases for seven days, which put it into the 'suppressed' category in the fight against the virus.

But latest statistics show there were nine cases in the Ledbury area up to October 22, moving the Market Town from the "all clear" white category to the green category, which shows the presence of Covid in relatively small numbers.

This was a rise of 200 per cent, but this is due to the relatively small numbers of cases being logged.

It has been a similar jump for the Fownhope, Tarrington and Marcle zone, where 7 cases were logged - a rise of 250 per cent.

There was a rise of 60 per cent in the Colwall, Cradley and Wellington Heath area, although that was down to just three new cases being noted.

Eight cases were registered for the Dymock, Hartpury and Huntley zone, but that was actually a fall of minus 63.6 per cent on the previous statistics.

Public Health England figures show that a total of 1,355 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Sunday (October 25) in Herefordshire, a rise of 20 on the previous day.

The health body is now including Pillar 2 tests – those carried out by commercial partners – alongside Pillar 1 tests, which are analysed in NHS or PHE laboratories and which made up the first stage of the Government's mass testing programme.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 19,790 over the period to 873,800.

Meanwhile, health officials have announced that there will be testing for coronavirus this winter in each of Herefordshire's market towns, including Ledbury.

Speaking at a press conference on October 23, Karen Wright, director of public health for Herefordshire, said their intention is to open testing centres in Leominster, Ledbury, Kington, Ross and Bromyard.

So far, the main place for people to get a Covid-19 test in Herefordshire has been the mobile testing unit at Merton Meadow car park in Hereford.