Covid mapped: areas with the highest coronavirus infection rates across England, Scotland and the rest of the UK

Coronavirus infections have surged by 56% across the UK in the last week.

The highly contagious BA.2 Omicron strain – commonly dubbed Stealth Omicron – is now dominant in the UK, and infections are rising quickly across much of the country.

The uptick has prompted the Scottish Government to delay the dropping of face mask rules on public transport.

You can explore how many infections there are right now in your region, local authority area or neighbourhood in NationalWorld’s interactive maps of the UK below.

How many Covid infections are there?

Data published by the UK Government shows there were 410,173 positive cases in the UK in the week ending 10 March, 146,939 more than the week before.

At a regional level, Scotland has the highest infection rate in the UK, recording 1,447.6 cases per 100,000 residents in the week to 10 March – nearly three times greater than in England, which recorded a rate of 542.1 during the same period.

In total Scotland recorded 79,124 positive infections.

Northern Ireland has the second highest rate in the UK, with 842.7 cases per 100,000 residents being recorded in the week to 10 March, followed by the South West with 754 cases per 100,000 people.

Wales currently has the lowest infection rate in the UK. The country recorded 8,520 infections during the same period, with a rate of 268.8 cases per 100,000 residents.

The figures include both positive PCR and lateral flow tests. They include people infected with coronavirus for the first time as well as reinfections – although there are differences across the UK nations in the time that must elapse between infections for it to be counted as a new case.

Which local authorities are being the hardest hit?

Almost every local authority in the UK has seen a rise in infection rates with only the Shetland and Orkney Islands seeing a drop.

However, local authorities across Scotland have recorded some of the highest infection rates across the UK. The 31 authorities with the highest infection rates in the UK are all in Scotland.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (the Western Isles) currently has the highest infection rate in the UK, recording 2,252.8 positive infections per 100,000 people in the week to 10 March. This is followed by East Ayrshire with a rate of 2,018.9 and North Ayrshire with 1,933 infections per 100,000 people.

Pendle in the North West of England currently has the lowest infection rate in the UK. It recorded a positive infection rate of 173.6 per 100,000 in the week to 10 March.

How many cases are in your neighbourhood?

Data for England and Scotland is published at a hyper-local level.

There are 241 neighbourhoods in England (out of 6,792) that have recorded rates above 1,000 per 100,000 people.

Bishops Lydeard and Cotford St Luke currently has the highest infection rate in England. The Somerset West and Taunton neighbourhood recorded 1,836.2 cases per 100,000 people in the week to 10 March.

Hazlehead in Aberdeen City has the highest infection rate in Scotland recording 1,893 cases per 100,000 people in the week to 12 March.

In total 1143 out of 1279 Scottish neighbourhoods had rates above 1,000 per 100,000 people.

What is the Government doing about rising infections?

The health body responsible for monitoring coronavirus infections, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said the situation is being monitored closely.

Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor at the UKHSA, said: “Covid-19 is still circulating at high levels due to the high transmissibility of circulating variants and expected increases in social mixing.

“While rates of severe disease and death due to Covid-19 remain low, hospital admissions have risen and we will therefore continue to monitor this data closely.

“Vaccination remains our first and best line of defence against illness, and it’s vital that everyone has had their latest dose. We can all help reduce transmission by wearing a face covering in crowded or enclosed spaces, washing hands regularly and keeping rooms well ventilated.”

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