The Prime Minister has advocated for "local solutions" to tackle the coronavirus pandemic - but warned it remains a national threat.
Boris Johnson said the way the virus is spreading may be different now to the way it was in March when the UK went into national lockdown.
He told a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday: "We are seeing some very clear local peaks.
"It may be that this is a more localised phenomenon this time in which case all the more reason for us to concentrate on these local solutions as well as these national solutions."
To clarify any uncertainties, Mr Johnson added: "Yes of course it is more acute in these particular local areas but it is vital to stress that this remains a national threat and a national challenge.
"We can't just expect it to be solved in the parts of the country which we think are particularly affected, it's down to all of us."
Mr Johnson admitted there could be complexities to adopting a localised approach but advised the public to use "common sense" about following the rules.
He said: "The best thing I can tell you is that everybody in the North East or elsewhere, in Merseyside, the Midlands, everywhere there are local restrictions, get on the websites, look at precisely what you're supposed to do."
Wednesday's update of the rolling seven-day rate of new cases of coronavirus for every local authority area in England put Burnley at the top of the list, with 327.3 cases per 100,000 people.
This was followed by Knowsley with 261.8 cases per 100,000 people and Liverpool with 258.4.
Enter your postcode below to see the latest on coronavirus in your local area:
Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said it is possible that the UK could see patterns of cases that are "highly concentrated in certain areas (and) lower rates in others".
But he added: "It is far too early to say that, we've got a long winter ahead of us and a lot could happen over that time.
"So I think to predict forward from here would be a big mistake."
He said that, although the virus was not doubling as quickly as it was in March, the numbers could pick up again quickly.
Prof Whitty said: "This small number of deaths now shouldn't reassure us that we won't be, in relatively short order, in quite difficult places, certainly in the regions where we are seeing significant growth at the moment."
Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance echoed this sentiment, stating: "It would be wrong to take from this that this is a problem in certain areas.
"It is worse in certain areas, but there is evidence of spread everywhere and we need to be mindful of that, everyone needs to take precautions across the country."
