County Durham sees rise in number of Covid cases as latest weekly rates for the North East revealed

The number of new coronavirus cases and latest weekly rates for each area of the North East have been released.

The figures, for the seven days to July 27, are based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government's testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).

The rate is expressed as the number of new Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people.

Data for the most recent three days (July 28-30) has been excluded as it is incomplete and likely to be revised.

In County Durham, the rate has risen from 1.9 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to July 20 to 3.2 in the seven days to July 27. A total of 17 new cases have been recorded.

In Newcastle, the seven-day rate has fallen from 3.7 to 0.3, with just one new case.

According to the latest statistics, the region's rate of infection is low compared to some of the worst-hit areas of the country.

In Blackburn with Darwen, the rate has risen from 83.3 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to July 20 to 89.3 in the seven days to July 27. A total of 133 new cases have been recorded.

Leicester is in second place, where the seven-day rate has fallen from 67.8 to 60.2, with 214 new cases.

Other areas reporting notable week-on-week jumps include:

- Oldham (up from 23.3 to 54.3, with 128 new cases)

- Pendle (up from 27.4 to 42.7, with 39 new cases)

- Trafford (up from 15.2 to 41.0, with 97 new cases)

- Calderdale (up from 20.9 to 33.8, with 71 new cases)

- Swindon (up from 9.0 to 28.8, with 64 new cases)

The list is based on Public Health England figures updated on July 30 on the Government's coronavirus online dashboard.

Here is the North East list in full. From left to right, it reads: name of local authority; the rate of new cases in the seven days to July 27; the number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to July 27; the rate of new cases in the seven days to July 20; the number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to July 20.

County Durham 3.2 (17), 1.9 (10)

South Tyneside 2.0 (3), 1.3 (2)

North Tyneside 1.9 (4), 1.9 (4)

Northumberland 1.6 (5), 2.2 (7)

Sunderland 1.1 (3), 2.2 (6)

Gateshead 1.0 (2), 3.0 (6)

Newcastle upon Tyne 0.3 (1), 3.7 (11)