Durham City has recorded the highest Covid case rate in the country as the area battles the Delta variant.
The city’s rate has soared to 2.114.3 per 100,000 people in the seven days until June 19, with a total of 306 cases were recorded.
Neighbouring Aykley Heads, Neville's Cross and Langley Moor recorded 94 cases, giving it a case rate of 636.2.
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The city comes in front of Hyde Park, in Leeds, which has a rolling rate of 1,499.9, and Selly Oak, in the West Midlands, with a rate of 1,202.2.
North Jesmond, in Newcastle, has the fourth highest rate in England at 1,086.1.
It comes as the National Education Union of Durham says at least 1,900 children and staff are isolating in the county.
Five schools in County Durham have also taken the decision to temporarily close, out of the 266 schools in the council area.
While teachers have been told schools with two or more Covid cases must reintroduce face coverings.
Geoff Lumsdon, who is head teacher of Seaham High School, says the request has come from County Durham’s Public Health Director Amanda Healy.
In an email to parents, he said: "Due to the significant increase in Covid-19 cases in education settings, Amanda Healy (Director of Public Health) has requested that any education setting with two or more confirmed cases will be asked to reintroduce the use of face coverings in school.
“This will help to reduce the risk of transmission within the education setting.”
Mr Lumsdon said the school has two confirmed cases therefore wearing of face coverings compulsory for all students, staff and visitors both in lessons and in communal areas unless the student is exempt.
He added: “Any student, member of staff or visitor who is exempt should wear their Green lanyard or collect another. We do have a supply of face masks and obviously will be ordering more to support this.”
