An increasing proportion of people taking Covid tests in England are getting positive results.
Between 25 November and 1 December, 9.8% of people who took a PCR Covid test in England got at least one positive result, according to the government’s Covid dashboard – the highest proportion since 22 July.
The positivity rate has been creeping up over the past few weeks.
A week ago it was 9.7%, and 9.5% two weeks ago.
The positivity rate gives us an indication of how many people are infected with the virus and how it is spreading in that area.
It comes as Boris Johnson has told ministers that the new Omicron variant of coronavirus appears to be “more transmissible” than Delta as he updated his Cabinet on the latest situation on Tuesday morning.
Professor Tim Spector warned cases of the Omicron variant in the UK are soon expected to be higher than in some African countries placed on the travel red list.
Mr Johnson said now is the time for people to get a booster jab.
Across England, the positivity rate in the week to 1 December varied from 15.7% in Tamworth, to 3.8% in Westminster.
Positivity was highest in the East Midlands at 11.6%, compared to 8.5% in London.
Here are the top 20 councils with the highest positivity rate in England in the week to 1 December.
1. Tamworth
Tamworth has seen 15.7% of people test positive for Covid out of everyone who has been tested.
2. Ashford
Ashford has seen 15.6% of people test positive for Covid out of everyone who has been tested.
3. Torridge
Torridge has seen 15% of people test positive for Covid out of everyone who has been tested.
4. Portsmouth
Portsmouth has seen 14.9% of people test positive for Covid out of everyone who has been tested.