Norfolk care home Covid outbreak: Map shows likely location

This week it was confirmed that 28 cases of the pirola variant (BA.2.86) were detected in a single care home in Norfolk.

It meant that 82pc of all confirmed cases of the new strand of the virus in the UK have been found at the same Norfolk care facility.

According to officials, on August 21 an "unusual number" of residents at the care home fell unwell, which resulted in a programme of PCR testing.

This testing would later confirm 45 cases of Covid - 33 among residents and 12 staff members. 

Following sequencing, 28 cases were confirmed to be the new variants.

Authorities have not identified the care home at the centre of the outbreak, only confirming it to be in Norfolk.

However, new statistics have likely closed the net in on an area of Breckland, which saw a spike in cases in the week leading up to August 27 - the same week as the outbreak.

Government figures have shown an infection rate of 477 cases per 100,000 people in the Shipdham, Bradenham and Saham Toney areas, near Dereham.

The area, made up of a handful of villages including Bradenham, Little Hale and North Pickenham, has the highest rate of confirmed infections in the county - making it almost certainly where the outbreak took place.

Several care homes in the area have been contacted, but none have been able to comment.

Meanwhile, Norfolk County Council and the UK Health Security Agency continue to advise the home and monitor the situation.

As of earlier this week, almost all of the residents had recovered from their illness - although four continued to be unwell.

The new variant also sparked health bosses in the region to bring forward the autumn booster programme, which will start on Monday.