Where Scarborough stands in the list of Covid-19 ‘hotspots’

Clear coronavirus hotspots are emerging across the UK, with the Government unveiling plans for ‘local lockdowns’ in the next phase of the fight against the pandemic.

With the number of new cases on the decline and efforts under way to release blanket restrictions, attention is shifting to the pockets of the country where the virus continues to spread.

A total of 278 coronavirus cases were recorded in the Scarborough district as of May 9, rising to 305 up until May 23.

The additional 27 cases identified during that fortnight means there was a 24.8 rate per 100,000 of the population from May 9 to May 23. In the JPI Data Unit rankings ofhotspots,Scarboroughis92 of 313 local authority areas in England.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “We will have local lockdowns in future where there are flare-ups.

“We have a system that we are putting in place with a combination of Public Health

England and the new Joint Biosecurity Centre, along with the local directors of public health, who play an absolutely crucial role in decision-making in this system, to make sure if there is a local flareup, we have a local lockdown.”

Ashford in Kent saw the highest rate of people testing positive for coronavirus in the two weeks to May 23, JPIMedia analysis of official figures shows. It had 143 new cases, equivalent to 110 for every 100,000 people.

West Devon, in contrast, saw no new cases over the same time period. Devolved governments in Scotland and Northern Ireland have set out their own contact tracing plans.

Scotland rolled out its ‘Test and Protect’ system on Thursday, May 28.

Northern Ireland was the first of the UK nations to begin a contact tracing programme.

Anyone in England with coronavirus symptoms can now get a test. People who test positive will be contacted and askedtologontotheNHSTest and Trace website.