Covid cases in the UK have risen over the past week, with some areas experiencing higher rates than others.
There has also been a recent rise in the number of people in hospital because of Covid – rather than just with Covid – in England.
Wales and Scotland have also seen a rise in Covid patients in hospital, but data is not available on how many of these were there primarily because of Covid.
In the week up to 2 March, there was a rate of 372.7 Covid infections per 100,000 people in the UK, but in the week up to 9 March the rate increased to 571.6. That was a rise of 53.4%.
Some areas of the UK in particular have seen Covid infections quickly rise over the last week, with cases more than doubling in over a dozen council areas.
Only the Shetland and Orkney Islands had a drop in Covid cases. In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has announced that laws requiring face coverings to be worn on public transport and some other settings will not be scrapped as planned next week, due to rising case
These are the 15 areas of the UK where Covid cases have risen the fastest in the seven days up to 9 March.
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1. North Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire had a rate of 480.5 Covid cases per 100,000 people up to 9 March, a 129.25% change compared to the previous week’s rate of 209.6.
2. South Ribble
South Ribble had a rate of 528.4Covid cases per 100,000 people up to 9 March, a 126.59% change compared to the previous week’s rate of 233.2.
3. South Lakeland
South Lakeland had a rate of 634.9 Covid cases per 100,000 people up to 9 March, a 122.77% change compared to the previous week’s rate of 285.
4. Sefton
Sefton had a rate of 544 Covid cases per 100,000 people up to 9 March, a 115.36% change compared to the previous week’s rate of 252.6.