South Tyneside has highest weekly Covid case rate in England since January, after steepest rise in the country

And the borough has seen the steepest rise in the weekly case rate nationwide.

There were 2,052 new cases in South Tyneside the seven days to July 8, the equivalent of 1,359.2 per 100,000 people, up from 691.5 in the seven days to July 1 - the steepest rise in the country.

It is also the highest rate recorded anywhere in England since January 10, when Knowsley in Merseyside recorded a rate of 1,367.5.

North East Lincolnshire currently has the second highest rate, up from 610.4 to 927.5, with 1,480 new cases.

Sunderland, with 2,480 new cases confirmed in the seven days to July 8, is third. The city now has a weekly a rate of 893.0 per 100,000, up from 606.8 in the seven days to July 1.

The figures are based on the number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in either a lab-reported or rapid lateral flow test, by specimen date.

The North East is the country’s Coronavirus hotspot, with four out of the five local authority areas nationwide with the steepest rise in weekly case rates.

As well as South Tyneside, Hartlepool is second (up from 419.6 to 877.6); Middlesbrough, up from 341.2 to 783.1, third and Stockton-on-Tees, where the rate went from 295.9 to 610.6 in fifth.

The list has been calculated by the PA news agency based on Public Health England data published on July 12 on the Government’s coronavirus dashboard.

The North East list in full is:

From left to right: name of local authority; rate of new cases in the seven days to July 8; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to July 8; rate of new cases in the seven days to July 1; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to July 1.

South Tyneside, 1359.2, (2052), 691.5, (1044)

Sunderland, 893.0, (2480), 606.8, (1685)

Gateshead, 888.9, (1796), 632.0, (1277)

Hartlepool, 877.6, (822), 419.6, (393)

Newcastle upon Tyne, 832.2, (2520), 713.6, (2161)

Middlesbrough, 783.1, (1104), 341.2, (481)

County Durham, 735.7, (3900), 584.8, (3100)

North Tyneside, 718.1, (1493), 585.8, (1218)

Redcar and Cleveland, 687.6, (943), 380.6, (522)

Stockton-on-Tees, 610.6, (1205), 295.9, (584)

Darlington, 597.4, (638), 452.2, (483)

Northumberland, 537.8, (1734), 357.9, (1154)

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