The UK government is bracing for a huge surge in Covid-19 cases following the lifting of all remaining lockdown restrictions in England on 19 July, with expectations infections could rise to around 100,000 cases per day. The recent surge in cases has been fuelled by the spread of the highly contagious Delta Covid variant, which first originated in India, with 99 per cent of all local areas in England seeing a week-on-week rise in rates according to Public Health England data. But how does the picture look across the whole country? Listed are the 15 areas of the UK which currently have the coronavirus case rates right now, based on the seven days up to 1 July. Images are for illustrative purposes.
5. South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear
South Tyneside’s Covid-19 case rate is 1,042 and the area had 690.2 new cases. Photo: Hugh Hastings
6. Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
Gateshead’s Covid-19 case rate is 1,272 and the area had 629.5 new cases. Photo: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS
7. Rossendale, Lancashire
Rossendale’s Covid-19 case rate is 444 and the area had 62.1 new cases. Photo: Dan Kitwood
8. East Lothian, Scotland
East Lothian’s Covid-19 case rate is 652 and the area had 608.8 new cases. Photo: Hollie Adams