Hertfordshire's director of public health Jim McManus has stressed the pandemic is not over – and urges residents to 'keep looking out for one another'.

Officials at Herts County Council say they are now dealing with 'outbreaks' of Covid at 352 of Hertfordshire schools.

That is believed to be the highest number of ongoing outbreaks recorded in schools in Hertfordshire at any one time since the start of the pandemic.

Mr McManus said: "Two key reasons we are getting through this latest surge of cases have been the high numbers of people coming forward to get their booster jabs and people changing their behaviour.

"We know in Hertfordshire residents continue to test regularly with LFTs, take a PCR test if they have symptoms, and wear face coverings in crowded and enclosed spaces where they may come into contact with people they do not normally meet.

"This includes adults on 'school runs' where space is tight and when meeting in communal areas inside educational settings.

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

According to the latest data more than 11,197 under-19s were diagnosed with Covid in Hertfordshire between January 4 and January 22.

And cases are most prevalent in the five to nine-year-old age group – where 3,973 cases have been recorded.

Amongst other age groups there were 1637 cases recorded in the 0-4 age group; 3,456 recorded amongst 10-14-year-olds and a further 2,131 in 15 – 19-year-olds.

The latest available data of cases in under-19s (recorded between January 4 and January 22) in the county can also be broken down by geographical area.

In North Herts there were 175 cases in the 0-4 age group; 375 amongst 5-9s; 325 in the 10-14 age group; and 198 in 15-19s.

In Stevenage there were 104 cases in the 0-4 age group; 291 amongst 5-9s; 285 in the 10-14 age group; and 177 in 15-19s.

In Broxbourne it shows there were 85 cases in the 0-4 age group; 239 amongst 5-9s; 200 in the 10-14 age group; and 159 in 15-19s between Jan 4 and Jan 22.

In Dacorum there were 226 cases in the 0-4 age group; 474 amongst 5-9s; 408 in the 10-14 age group; and 263 in 15-19s.

In East Herts there were 194 cases in the 0-4 age group; 403 amongst 5-9s; 352 in the 10-14 age group; and 254 in 15-19s.

In Hertsmere there were 173 cases in the 0-4 age group; 398 amongst 5-9s; 379 in the 10-14 age group; and 202 in 15-19s.

In St Albans there were 235 cases in the 0-4 age group; 593 amongst 5-9s; 431 in the 10-14 age group; and 247 in 15-19s.

In Three Rivers there were 133 cases in the 0-4 age group; 405 amongst 5-9s; 351 in the 10-14 age group; and 189 in 15-19s.

In Watford there were 162 cases in the 0-4 age group; 450 amongst 5-9s; 398 in the 10-14 age group; and 225 in 15-19s.

In Welwyn Hatfield there were 150 cases in the 0-4 age group; 345 amongst 5-9s; 327 in the 10-14 age group; and 217 in 15-19s.