UK areas where Covid rates have doubled in a month as infections reach record highs

Local areas in Scotland, Wales and south-west England currently have higher case rates than at any point since mass testing was first introduced in summer last year, while parts of Northern Ireland have hit a new peak in recent days.

The return of schools in Scotland earlier this month is thought to have contributed to the surge in cases, and the rest of the country is expected to see a similar spike when pupils return to classrooms in September.

As well as the return to schools, concerns have also been raised about summer music festivals contributing to the rising rates.

Almost 5,000 coronavirus cases have been linked to the Boardmasters music and surf festival in Newquay two weeks ago, and hundreds to Latitude Festival in Suffolk.

Several more large gatherings are being held over this bank holiday weekend, including the Reading and Leeds Festivals, and Creamfields in Cheshire.

Jabs will be offered to festival goers at both Reading and Leeds in a bid to encourage more young people to get vaccinated, with the aim of increasing population immunity.

It is hoped that the vaccines will help to prevent an increase in hospital admissions and deaths, with more than 47 million people having now received at least one dose.

Latest figures show parts of Wales and Scotland have seen cases double and triple in some areas, with both countries currently recording higher rates than in England, although Northern Ireland still has the highest case rates by far.

A total of 29 council areas across the UK saw cases more than double over the last month, with these 15 areas recording the biggest percentage increase in rates per 100,000 from the seven days to 21 July to the seven days to 21 August. Images are for illustrative purposes.