CASES of coronavirus in Oxford hae once again risen to the level of an amber alert.

The city, as of September 8, has an infection rate of 25.6 cases per 100,000 people compared with 11.2 a week prior.

This is down to an increase of 39 new positive tests compared to 17.

It is based on Public Health England data published today on the Government’s coronavirus online dashboard.

It puts the city above a weekly infection of 25, which is the criteria for an amber alert.

The rate is still far below the highest in the country, however, with Bolton remaining top with a rate of 179.1 from more than 500 new cases in a week.

The number of recorded coronavirus cases in Oxfordshire increased by 19 over the last 24 hours.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus fears at Oxfordshire school as staff member tests positive for Covid

Public Health England figures show that 3,666 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Friday. Of these eight were in Oxford.

It comes as the Office for National Statistics said in recent weeks there has been an increase in the number of people testing positive for Covid-19 aged 17 to 24 years and 25 to 34 years.

But the ONS added the number of people testing positive for Covid-19 aged 50 years and over appears to be stable or declining.

The reproduction number, or R value, of coronavirus transmission across the UK, meanwhile, has risen above one.

Data released by the Government Office for Science and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) showed the estimate for R across the UK is between 1.0 and 1.2.

This means the epidemic is growing, while below one that it is declining.