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.
9. South Gloucestershire, South West England
Covid-19 case rates in South Gloucestershire increased from 10.9 in the week 2 June to 45.2 in the week to 9 June. This is a 314.7 percentage change. Photo: Leon Neal
10. Northampton, Northamptonshire
Covid-19 case rates in Northampton increased from 12.9 in the week 2 June to 53 in the week to 9 June. This is a 310.9 percentage change. Photo: Hollie Adams
11. Chelmsford, Essex
Covid-19 case rates in Chelmsford increased from 5.6 in the week 2 June to 22.4 in the week to 9 June. This is a 300.0 percentage change. Photo: OLI SCARFF
12. Richmondshire, North Yorkshire
Covid-19 case rates in Richmondshire increased from 9.3 in the week 2 June to 35.4 in the week to 9 June. This is a 280.6 percentage change. Photo: Dan Kitwood