Covid: Omicron hotspot among UK areas with highest infection rates

Covid-19 infection levels are still rising across the UK, with the South East of England reporting the highest case rates.

An Omicron hotspot has also topped the table for the highest rate of Covid-19 infections in the UK, official government data shows.

South Northamptonshire had the highest rate of coronavirus as of 9 December, with 895.4 cases per 100,000 people.

It’s also West Northamptonshire - a unitary council covering the area of South Northamptonshire - that ranks top for the most Omicron cases.

According to the UK Heath Security Agency, the local authority had seen 49 confirmed cases and 68 suspected cases of the highly infectious variant, as of 6 December, the latest available data broken down at council level.

Nationally, there were 345,175 positive test results in the UK in the week to December 9, up 7.1% from the week before, according to the UK Government.

Regionally, South East England had the highest infection rates in the UK with 650 cases per 100,000 people and Yorkshire and The Humber had the lowest with 358 per 100,000.

It comes as adults in England now have to show a Covid pass to attend large venues, while Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has advised people to limit mixing to a maximum of three households.

Meanwhile Wales’ health minister Eluned Morgan has also said residents should prepare for more restrictions as the Welsh government is “currently not taking anything off the table” before Christmas.

Here are the 10 council areas in the UK with the highest case rates.