Covid infection rates: 10 England areas where cases are 5 times higher than at Christmas

The lifting of lockdown measures came with a warning from the Prime Minister to remain cautious, while chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said the UK is close to the previous ‘winter wave’ of infections, with around 50,000 people testing positive per day.

The winter lockdown was imposed shortly after restrictions were briefly lifted in time for Christmas, when the government granted a three-day period to allow people to meet indoors in small numbers.

But how do Covid-19 infection rates compare to the last time restrictions were eased in December? Listed are the 10 areas of England which have seen coronavirus cases increase by five times per 100,000 people from 26 December to 19 July ‘freedom day’. Images are for illustrative purposes.