Track the latest Covid data in your area with our interactive map
Sign up for free to get the latest North East news and updates delivered straight to your inbox
We have more newsletters
Sign up for free to get the latest North East news and updates delivered straight to your inbox
We have more newsletters
Covid-19 cases are on the rise in the UK, with the measures to stop infection spreading being brought forward.
The latest data provided by GOV.UK shows that the North East had the highest rate of confirmed cases across England in the seven days leading up to September 8, with 19.5 cases of Covid-19 for every 100,000 people.
This was followed by the South West, with 19 for every 100,000 people. Meanwhile, there were 17.9 in the South East and North West, the Mirror reports.
However, the number of cases varies widely by locality across the UK – and now you can track the latest data in your area with our interactive map.
The data comes as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it was in the process of bringing back greater "surveillance" of Covid-19 in our hospitals, as well as having brought forward this winter's booster jab campaign for vulnerable groups including the over-65s.
Millions of people will now be offered a Covid-19 vaccine from September 11, following an announcement made by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the UKHSA on the risks presented by the new BA.2.86 variant.
The Omicron subvariant, currently known as ‘BA.6’, is showing a tendency to mutate. While the 'Pirola' variant, which has more than 30 different mutations, making it difficult for experts to analyse properly.
There's also concern about the Eris mutation now accounts for one in seven Covid-19 cases – while the number of people recorded with the virus jumped from an estimated 3.3 per 100,000 to 7.2 in the space of less than a month. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Eris a variant of interest, and is asking countries to monitor it as cases grow globally.
But while the figures show an increase in cases, it may not reflect the virus’ actual prevalence in the country as the removal of free testing has seen the number of tests plummet since the height of the pandemic. There were a total of just 32,151 tests taken in England in the seven days leading up to August 8, a staggering decline from the 4.8 million at the same point in 2021.
Keeping up to date on Covid-19 cases in your area using our interactive map. Search for your postcode to see how your local area compares.
Dr Renu Bindra, Incident Director, UKHSA said: "While BA.2.86 has a significant number of mutations to the viral genome compared to other currently circulating Covid-19 variants, the data so far is too limited to draw firm conclusions about the impact this will have on the transmissibility, severity or immune escape properties of the virus.
"UKHSA scientists are working with international partners to culture the samples and analyse the evidence as it becomes available. However, it is likely to be some time before we have enough data to make a confident assessment.
"It is clear that there is some degree of widespread community transmission, both in the UK and globally, and we are working to ascertain the full extent of this. In the meantime, it remains vital that all those eligible come forward to receive their autumn vaccine as soon as it is offered to them."