Covid infection rate among Hartlepool's at-risk over-60s is highest in North East

Public Health England data shows 327.4 per 100,000 people aged 60 or over tested positive for the virus in the area in the seven days to December 23rd.

That was far higher than the rate across North East which stood at 146.5 over the same period.

Cases in Hartlepool rose among those aged 60 or over in the run up to Christmas, increasing from 281.8 cases per 100,000 in the week to the 16th.

The average infection rate among the 60 and over group in England was 245 per 100,000 in the week to the 23rd, up from 177 a week earlier.

Are people over 60 at risk?

The NHS says older people are at higher risk of developing serious illness from coronavirus.

While only those aged 70 and over are considered clinically vulnerable, the health body says over-60s are also at higher risk.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has previously revealed that coronavirus rates among the over-60s is one factor the Government considers when deciding what tier to put an area in.

It also monitors overall coronavirus infection rates, the rate of increase or decrease, and the proportion of tests conducted that come back positive.

Where are infections the highest in the UK?

Hambleton, in Rutland, saw the sharpest rise, with case rates increasing from 26 per 100,000 to 147 – a more than fivefold increase.

It was followed by the Isle of Wight and Southampton, where cases more than quadrupled, to 100 and 229 per 100,000 respectively.

However, the area with the highest infection rate among the 60 and over population was Essex’s Thurrock, with 1,011 cases per 100,000 in the week to the 23rd.

London and the South East dominated the rankings – of the top 20 over-60s Covid hotspots, 11 were London boroughs.

How does Hartlepool’s case rate in over-60s compare to the rest of the North East?

Hartlepool currently has the highest rate of covid cases per 100,000 people over-60 in the region.

See below each area’s case rate per 100,000 people aged over-60.

Hartlepool- 327.41

Middlesbrough - 217.92

South Tyneside – 186.43

County Durham - 167.74

Darlington – 157.75

Gateshead – 133.6

North Tyneside – 131.97

Sunderland – 120.48

Newcastle – 117.89

Northumberland – 112.510

Redcar and Cleveland – 44.911