Covid-19: The 15 UK hotspots with highest coronavirus infection rates

Coronavirus infection rates are still on the rise across the country, amid concerns over the Omicron variant.

There were 327,467 positive test results in the UK in the week to December 3, up 11% from the week before, official Government data shows.

At a regional level, Northern Ireland has the highest infection rates in the UK, with 670 cases per 100,000 people, followed by South East England, with 659 cases per 100,000.

Scotland has the lowest rate, with 358 cases per 100,000.

At council level, Torridge, in north Devon, has the highest rate of Covid-19 in the UK, with 1,009 cases per 100,000 people, as of December 2, the latest available council-level data.

It comes as the UK Government this week announced the country is to move to Plan B measures, which include the introduction of a Covid pass for entry into large venues in England, in a bid to tackle the Omicron strain.

The Prime Minister warned it is clear the new strain is “growing much faster” than Delta, and cases of Omicron could be doubling every two or three days as he strengthened England’s rules.

Here’s a look at the top 15 lower-tier council areas in the UK with the highest infection rates.