Hartlepool’s coronavirus case rate is now the highest in the region, according to latest figures

A report is now being released every week, showing the latest Covid-19 case rates per 100,000 population by local authority area.

And according to fresh data – released on Friday, July 31 – Hartlepool’s case rate for the week ending July 26, is 10.72 which is up from 6.43 the previous week.

The town now has the highest case rates in the region, with Middlesbrough coming second with at 4.27, having previously been 5.69.

The figure combines both pillar one and pillar two testing.

Pillar one tests take place in a laboratory setting, while pillar two covers tests carried out in the wider community.

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson postponed the latest easing of lockdown restrictions for a fortnight as coronavirus numbers ‘creep up’ across the country.

In a press conference on Friday, July 31, Mr Johnson said progress was being made in the fight against the virus – but that the UK was ‘not exempt’ from a rise in cases as other countries begin to feel the impact of a potential second wave.

He told reporters: “I’ve also consistently warned that this virus could come back and that we would not hesitate to take swift and decisive action as required.”

Bowling alleys, casinos and skating rinks are among the businesses affected by the postponed easing of restrictions.

Mr Johnson also announced that there has been an increase in the number of people testing positive for Covid-19 in England.

According to Mr Johnson, one in 1,500 people in the UK now have coronavirus, compared to one in 1,800 on July 15, and one in 2,000 on July 2.

Due to high case numbers, local lockdowns have been put in place across parts of Northern England following an announcement on July 30.

These are the latest Covid-19 case rates for the North East (July 20 and July 26) alongside the numbers for the previous weeks:

(Local authority area: week 30, week 29, week 28)

South Tyneside: 2.66 (0.67) (2.66)

North Tyneside: 2.43 (1.94) (2.43)

Stockton-on-Tees: 2.03 (1.52) (4.06)

Northumberland: 2.19 (1.56) (1.87)

County Durham: 2.28 (2.28) (2.65)

Gateshead: 1.48 (2.47) (3.46)

Sunderland: 1.08 (2.88) (2.52)

Darlington: 1.88 (3.75) (1.88)

Newcastle upon Tyne: 0.67 (3.66) (3.33)

Hartlepool: 10.72 (6.43) (3.22)

Middlesbrough: 4.27 (5.69) (2.13)

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