Coronavirus infection rates rose in four parts of the northeast last week – with the biggest increase in North Tyneside.
In the seven days leading up to May 21, North Tyneside recorded 107 new cases – an increase from 74 infections the week before. This is the equivalent of 51.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Covid cases have also increased in Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland. However, rates have come down in South Tyneside, Northumberland and County Durham. Scroll down to see the latest numbers for all Northeast regions.
The data comes as North Tyneside continues to fight the spread of the Indian variant of Covid and after a chaotic 24-hour period where the government appeared to advise against non-essential travel in and out of the region.
It caused fear, anger and confusion across the region, with local leaders claiming they had not even been made aware of the new advice.
However, Downing Street said it was amending its guidelines to “make it clearer” that people are free to travel wherever they want – but with a caveat for the public to be careful.
New coronavirus figures for England show the district of Rossendale in Lancashire is quickly becoming one of the UK’s worst hotspots.
In the seven days leading up to May 21, the district recorded 81 new cases – a large increase from 20 the week before.
This is the equivalent of 113.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, more than four times the rate recorded during the previous seven days.
Data also shows Bolton suffered by far the most infections and has the highest infection rate in England after registering 1,300 new cases, up from 865 the week before, The Mirror reports.
Blackburn with Darwen has the second highest infection rate with 301.9 cases, followed by Bedford with 193.9 and then Rossendale.
(Image: Craig Connor / ChronicleLive)
What is the infection rate in your area?
Here is the complete list of the Northeast:
From left to right, we read: the name of the local authority; rate of new cases in the seven days to May 21; number (in brackets) of new cases registered in the seven days prior to May 21; rate of new cases in the seven days to May 14; number (in brackets) of new cases registered in the seven days prior to May 14.
North Tyneside , 51.5, (107), 35.6, (74)
Newcastle , 48.9, (148), 42.9, (130)
Gateshead , 17.3, (35), 11.9, (24)
Sunderland , 13.7, (38), 11.9, (33)
South Tyneside , 12.6, (19), 19.2, (29)
County Durham , 9.8, (52), 11.9, (63)
Northumberland , 8.1, (26), 15.8, (51)