TIGHTER restrictions should not yet be forced on the county based on the current number of coronavirus cases, the city's MP has said.

Worcester MP Robin Walker believes he has not yet seen a reason for Worcestershire to move up a tier and be forced to follow stricter rules, based on the latest figures, as the county's infection rate was still below the national average.

"I'm not aware of any change and the last time we discussed this last week it was determined that the whole county should stay in the bottom tier at medium risk," he said.

"I think the fact that we remain in Worcester significantly below the national average suggests that we are likely to stay at medium risk but obviously it's a whole county measurement."

Worcestershire is currently in the medium level 'tier one' and must follow national measures including 10pm curfews for pubs and restaurants, indoor and outdoor meetings must be restricted to six people and schools and universities remain open.

If the county was classed as a 'high' alert area forced to abide by 'tier two' restrictions, people would not be allowed to meet anybody outside their household or support bubble indoors.

The infection rate for the city was 80 per 100,000 people in the seven days up to October 12, according to government figures, but had dropped to 71 by October 15.

Latest figures show the infection rate fell in Worcester, Malvern and Wyre Forest but increased slightly in Wychavon.

The infection rate also increased in Bromsgrove - where the 151 cases per 100,000 people was the highest in the county - and Redditch.

Mr Walker said that whilst rates were higher in the north of the county, figures in Bromsgrove were still below the national average which was a sign that Worcestershire would be staying at medium risk.

"Whilst Bromsgrove and Wyre Forest were higher, they still weren't higher than the national average, so again that would be in sync with the whole county remaining at the bottom tier in medium," he said.

"Unfortunately these things can change so that's where we can't rule out anything happening in terms of moving to a different category.

"I just think it's important that people realise that medium is medium for a reason. It's not low risk.

"Keep mask wearing, keep washing hands and keep respecting the rule of six because that is the only way we are going to stay at a medium level and avoid much tighter measures which will be bad for the economy."

A total of 425 positive cases were recorded in Worcestershire between October 11 and October 17.

Figures provided by Public Health England show where the most cases were recorded in Worcester between October 7 and October 13.

Ten cases were recorded in King George's Field - which covers WR3 and WR4 postcodes including parts of Astwood Road, Tolladine Road, Langdale Drive, Brickfields Road and Blackpole Road - which was the most in the city that week.

Eight cases were recorded in Worcester Town South - which covers most of the city centre towards Worcester Cathedral as well as Sidbury, parts of London Road, Wyld's Lane and Lowesmoor - and a further eight cases were recorded in Lower Wick and Bromwich Road.

Seven cases were recorded in Ronkswood and Nunnery Wood and Warndon East. Six cases were recorded in Henwick and Battenhall and Diglis and five cases were recorded in Henwick and Lyppard Grange.

Areas with fewer than two cases are not highlighted by Public Health England.

As of October 18, a total of 4,580 coronavirus cases have been recorded in Worcestershire.

Of those cases, 747 cases have been recorded in Worcester, 823 have been recorded in Wychavon and 456 have been recorded in Malvern Hills.

Elsewhere in the county, 1,053 cases have been recorded in Bromsgrove, 717 in Redditch and 784 in Wyre Forest.