Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed a month-long delay to ending lockdown on Monday (15 June), with the final stage of restrictions now pushed back to 19 July. The highly transmissible variant, first identified in India, now accounts for 96 per cent of all new Covid-19 cases in the UK and is 60 per cent more transmissible than other strains. Covid-19 cases have been rising across England, with these 15 areas recording the biggest weekly rise in case rates per 100,000 people in the seven days to 9 June, compared with the seven days to 2 June. Images are for illustrative purposes only.
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Several areas of England have seen huge weekly increases in Covid-19 cases (Composite: Kim Mogg / JPIMedia) Photo: Kim Mogg / JPIMedia
. Mendip, Somerset
Covid-19 case rates in Mendip increased from 0.9 in the week 2 June to 7.8 in the week to 9 June. This is a 766.7 percentage change. Photo: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS
. Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, South West England
Covid-19 case rates in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly increased from 4 in the week 2 June to 33.4 in the week to 9 June. This is a 735.0 percentage change. Photo: Hugh Hastings
. Hartlepool, County Durham
Covid-19 case rates in Hartlepool increased from 4.3 in the week 2 June to 28.8 in the week to 9 June. This is a 569.8 percentage change. Photo: ADRIAN DENNIS
. Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
Covid-19 case rates in Barrow-in-Furness increased from 7.5 in the week 2 June to 38.8 in the week to 9 June. This is a 417.3 percentage change. Photo: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS
. Ryedale, North Yorkshire
Covid-19 case rates in Ryedale increased from 3.6 in the week 2 June to 18.1 in the week to 9 June. This is a 402.8 percentage change. Photo: TOLGA AKMEN
. Northumberland, North East England
Covid-19 case rates in Northumberland increased from 19.5 in the week 2 June to 94.6 in the week to 9 June. This is a 385.1 percentage change. Photo: Ian Forsyth
1. Mendip, Somerset
Covid-19 case rates in Mendip increased from 0.9 in the week 2 June to 7.8 in the week to 9 June. This is a 766.7 percentage change. Photo: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS
2. Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, South West England
Covid-19 case rates in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly increased from 4 in the week 2 June to 33.4 in the week to 9 June. This is a 735.0 percentage change. Photo: Hugh Hastings
3. Hartlepool, County Durham
Covid-19 case rates in Hartlepool increased from 4.3 in the week 2 June to 28.8 in the week to 9 June. This is a 569.8 percentage change. Photo: ADRIAN DENNIS
4. Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
Covid-19 case rates in Barrow-in-Furness increased from 7.5 in the week 2 June to 38.8 in the week to 9 June. This is a 417.3 percentage change. Photo: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS