The rate of new coronavirus cases in Watford has dropped considerably in the last week – so much so, the borough now sits below Three Rivers.

The rate in Watford has been as high as 28 over a seven day period this month – mainly due to outbreaks in larger households in the town.

But the latest figures published daily on the government website suggest these outbreaks have been squashed with the rate now three times less.

In the seven days to August 23, the rate, which is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people, sits at 9.3 – which is equivalent to nine cases.

In the seven days to August 14, updated government figures show a total of 28 cases were identified in Watford – mainly in the northern area of the town.

Of the eight cases identified between August 16 and 22 in Watford, three were in Leggatts ward in the north of the town.

Watford has had the highest Covid-19 case rate in Hertfordshire for more than a month, but now it sits below Three Rivers and Dacorum – the latter has emerged as the county’s new hotspot.

The rate in Dacorum for the seven days to August 23 is 22.0 – which is equivalent to 34 new cases because Dacorum has a population of around 150,000.

The cases are spread around the borough, but there has been a noticeable outbreak in Tring in the west of the district.

Government data shows 11 cases were identified in the Tring area between August 16 and August 22.

Three were identified in Hemel Hempstead town centre and three in the Boxmoor and Apsley area.

In the seven days to August 23, Dacorum’s rate of 22.0 is the 27th highest out of more than 300 local authorities in England.

Watford’s rate now places it outside the top 100.

The rate in Three Rivers has risen to its highest level in some time.

A total of 12 cases were identified in the district in the seven days to August 23 which is a rate of 12.9.

Three cases between August 16 and August 22 were identified in the Rickmansworth West area.

The rate in Hertsmere remains stable – 7.6 which is eight new cases, while it has dropped in St Albans to 4.7 which is seven new cases.

Government data shows cases have been identified in south west Hertfordshire since August 23.

On Monday, two cases were identified in Watford, four in Dacorum, and one in each of Hertsmere, Three Rivers, and St Albans.

A mobile drive-thru testing centre has returned to Watford on Mondays and Thursdays at Watford town hall in Hempstead Road.

For anyone who currently has symptoms and access to their own transport, drive-through tests are available 8am to 4.30pm in the town hall car park.

Visitors are reminded to bring their mobile phone with them when they visit a testing centre.

Testing locations can be booked online at www.gov.uk/coronavirus or https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/.

The booking system will only show details of test locations which are available in the following 24 hours.

Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor said: “It’s so important that we continue to stay safe and consider others in order to stop the spread of this virus and save lives. If you have Coronavirus symptoms, please isolate immediately and book an appointment to get tested right away.”

Other coronavirus test sites in Hertfordshire are

• Monday to Sunday (all week) between 8am to 8pm at Tesco Headquarters in Shire Park in Welwyn Garden City

• Saturdays between 10am and 4pm in Hertford at County Hall, SG13 8DQ

• Mondays at 10am-4pm in Stevenage at Hertfordshire County Council’s office on Six Hills Way, SG1 2ST.

Alternatively, people can order a mail order test and test themselves with the swabs provided or have a swab test carried out by a trained professional.

The test involves taking a swab of the nose and the back of the throat.