A Government graph shows Bristol's coronavirus cases rapidly increased over the Christmas period - and are yet to fall.
Throughout December, our city's infection rates were steadily decreasing.
But a chart released by Public Health England reveals our city's cases started to spike following Christmas Day - a week after it entered Tier 2.
A new variant was also identified in Bristol around that time.
On Christmas Eve, 87 new cases were confirmed, 40 on December 25 but days later infections soared to 156 on Boxing Day, 218 on December 27 and 386 by December 29.
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The depiction reveals Bristol's spike rose almost vertically between the Christmas Day and New Years Eve, and cases are yet to fall.
Bristol's Covid rate per 100,000 people now stands at 475, which puts us in 204th in the country out of a possible 380 areas.
On Monday, Matt Hancock said the UK had now reached the 'worst point' of the pandemic.
Infections in south Bristol have risen so dramatically, the council has now activated its 'outbreak plan'.
A spokesperson said: "Our health and care systems are under extreme pressure as a result of Covid-19 admissions, winter pressures and other urgent priorities. Areas of South Bristol are currently seeing high case rates and public health teams have activated local outbreak plans to stem the spread of infection and support local residents."
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Two places in the city - Withywood (rate 1,171.7) and Knowle West (rate 1,141.2) - are now recording rates similar to those at the peak of the second wave back in November.
People aged between 30 to 59 account for the highest (47 per cent) group of those being diagnosed with the virus.
