The variant, first identified in India, is 60 per cent more transmissible than the Alpha variant, first identified in Kent, and has led every region in England to see a spike in cases over the past week, with infections particularly high in the North West. Surge testing and increased vaccination capacity has also been rolled out in badly affected areas, with locals in Manchester and Lancashire now told to minimise travel following a rise in cases. Listed are the 13 areas of the UK which have the highest number of Covid-19 case rates per 100,000 people, and the number of new cases in each area in the seven days up to 5 June. Images are for illustrative purposes only.