North East virus figures

NEW figures show how Covid-19 cases in the North East compare to the rest of England.

Infection rates have increased dramatically across the UK this week, with some parts of the country teetering on the brink of a local lockdown.

Every North East council area has experienced worrying spikes. In Gateshead, cases have more than trebled.

It has left the town shoulderto-shoulder with the likes of Leeds, while other parts of our region - such as South Tyneside - have been listed as an ‘area of concern’ by Public Health England.

And several now have a higher rate of infection than Leicester, the first UK city to be subjected to a local lockdown.

Currently Bolton has the highest infection rate in the country, after 350 new cases were recorded in the seven days to September 4 - the equivalent of 121.7 per 100,000 people.

On Tuesday, the Government announced tougher new restrictions there, with pubs and restaurants ordered to close at 10pm.

However, while the infection rates in the North East are not as high, cases are creeping up at a rapid pace.

These are the rolling seven-day rate of new Covid-19 cases across the country.

■ ■Bolton 121.7 (350), 48.3 (139)

■ ■Gateshead 46.0 (93), 13.4 (27)

■ ■South Tyneside 45.0 (68), 35.8 (54)

■ ■Sunderland 38.5 (107), 7.9 (22)

■ ■Newcastle upon Tyne 30.4 (92), 13.2 (40)

■ ■North Tyneside 23.1 (48), 9.1 (19)

■ ■County Durham 19.1 (101), 10.8 (57)

■ ■Northumberland 18.9 (61), 8.1 (26)

■ ■South Holland 1.1 (1), 1.1 (1)

The figures, for the seven days to September 4, are based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government’s testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).

The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.