Fourteen areas with infection rates above 400 as tier changes are expected

THERE are now 14 places in the North East where coronavirus infection rates are above 400.

The latest figures from Public Health England show Ouston and Beamish continues to have the highest infection rate in the area.

It recorded a rate of 727.1 per 100,000 in the week leading up to December 23.

Ferryhill East and Cornforth has the second highest rate with 686.3, while Sherburn and West Rainton has the third highest rate at 544.5.

It comes as County Durham recorded 1,398 cases in the same time period, with an infection rate of 263.7 – the highest in the North East.

South Tyneside has three areas with an infection rate above 400.

Jarrow Town has a rate of 431.4, while Harton West has a rate of 416.6, and West Park has a rate of 400.9. Health Secretary Matt

Hancock is due to announce changes to coronavirus tiers in the House of Commons today. He will reveal whether restrictions in local areas are being toughened up or eased for the final time in 2020.

MPs are returning to Westminster for one day today, in order to rapidly vote through Boris Johnson’s 11thhour Brexit deal. The vote is expected to take place around 2.30pm, with announcements about tier changes expected at around 3pm.

The Prime Minister was expected to discuss new tier arrangements at a meeting yesterday afternoon.

The infection rate for each area over 400 is listed below. COUNTY DURHAM

■ ■Ouston and Beamish 727.1

■ ■Ferryhill East and Cornforth 686.3

■ ■Sherburn and West Rainton 544.5

■ ■Pity Me and Framwellgate 520.3

■ ■Stanley West and Annfield Plain 484.7

■ ■Stanley South 460.5

■ ■Wingate and Castle Eden 448.8

■ ■Coxhoe and Quarrington 446.6

■ ■Crawcrook and Greenside 441.8

■ ■Spennymoor West 409.9

■ ■High Shincliffe and Bowburn 405.3 SOUTH TYNESIDE

■ ■Jarrow Town 431.4

■ ■West Park 400.9

■ ■Harton West 416.7