The area in England with the worst Covid rates after infections double in a week

South Tyneside in the North East of England has the highest Covid infection rate in England after it more than doubled in a week.

The news comes as almost every area in England reported a week-on-week increase in Covid cases as 'Freedom Day' approaches.

Of the 315 local areas in England, 302 (96%) have an increase in infections while just 13 (4%) have witnessed a fall.

South Tyneside comes at the top with 1,651 new cases in the seven days to July 5, the equivalent of 1,093.6 per 100,000 people which is up sharply from 432.5 in the seven days to June 28.

It is also the first time any local area of England has recorded a rate higher than 1,000 per 100,000 people since January 18, when Knowsley in Merseyside recorded a rate of 1,012.8.

Almost every area in England reported a week-on-week increase (stock image) (Jon Corken/Grimsby Live)

South Tyneside also had the highest week-on-week increase followed by North East Lincolnshire (419.9 to 822.9), Hartlepool (266.9 to 659.8), Sunderland (419.5 to 800.1) and Gateshead (452.8 to 786.9).

North East Lincolnshire currently has the second highest Covid rate with it increasing from 419.9 to 822.9, with 1,313 new cases.

Sunderland has the third highest rate, up from 419.5 to 800.1, with 2,222 new cases.

Of the 315 local areas in England, 302 (96%) have an increase in infections (stock image) (Ian Cooper / Teesside Live)

On Monday Boris Johnson announced face masks, social distancing, those QR codes and ordering at the bar in pubs will no longer be a legal requirement in England from that date.

Full-size stadium gigs and theatre shows will also be able to restart with no social distancing restrictions.

Masks won’t even be legally required in hospitals and care homes - and won’t be specifically advised on public transport.

Face masks will no longer be a legal requirement after July 19 (Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)

Despite relaxing the rules Mr Johnson admitted the pandemic is "far from over", adding "It certainly won't be over by the 19th".

He even admitted daily cases could hit 50,000 a day by then - and the link with deaths, while weakened, is not entirely severed.

A total of 35,707 people have tested positive to coronavirus in the UK in the last 24 hours which is the highest number of cases recorded in the third wave and since January 23.

A further 29 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.

Area breakdown of Covid rates in England

From left to right: name of local authority; rate of new cases in the seven days to July 2; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to July 2; rate of new cases in the seven days to June 25; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to June 25.

South Tyneside, 1093.6, (1651), 432.5, (653)

North East Lincolnshire, 822.9, (1313), 419.9, (670)

Sunderland, 800.1, (2222), 419.5, (1165)

Tamworth, 794.0, (609), 551.5, (423)

Gateshead, 786.9, (1590), 452.8, (915)

Newcastle upon Tyne, 782.3, (2369), 575.9, (1744)

County Durham, 676.9, (3588), 478.4, (2536)

North Tyneside, 676.7, (1407), 485.8, (1010)

Hartlepool, 659.8, (618), 266.9, (250)

Rossendale, 646.3, (462), 521.8, (373)

Hyndburn, 610.8, (495), 613.3, (497)

Barnsley, 594.7, (1468), 326.1, (805)

Oldham, 593.0, (1406), 425.5, (1009)

Oxford, 564.1, (860), 431.6, (658)

Wigan, 534.9, (1758), 471.9, (1551)

Burnley, 529.7, (471), 482.5, (429)

Manchester, 529.6, (2928), 497.6, (2751)

Liverpool, 519.4, (2587), 403.8, (2011)

Darlington, 517.8, (553), 324.0, (346)

Middlesbrough, 517.1, (729), 214.2, (302)

Rochdale, 511.7, (1138), 409.2, (910)

Redcar and Cleveland, 508.2, (697), 268.3, (368)

Salford, 506.1, (1310), 480.2, (1243)

Trafford, 503.9, (1196), 366.1, (869)

Leeds, 501.8, (3980), 378.2, (3000)

Lancaster, 494.4, (722), 352.6, (515)

Wakefield, 492.4, (1715), 334.8, (1166)

Sefton, 476.5, (1317), 357.4, (988)

Bristol, 473.9, (2196), 301.1, (1395)

Wirral, 473.4, (1534), 303.1, (982)

Stockton-on-Tees, 464.7, (917), 193.1, (381)

North Warwickshire, 459.7, (300), 240.6, (157)

Knowsley, 458.7, (692), 381.1, (575)

St Helens, 453.0, (818), 286.8, (518)

West Lancashire, 445.3, (509), 245.8, (281)

Solihull, 443.2, (959), 283.8, (614)

Tameside, 438.9, (994), 352.3, (798)

High Peak, 438.1, (406), 204.0, (189)

Blackpool, 435.3, (607), 323.4, (451)

Carlisle, 430.6, (468), 287.1, (312)

Rushcliffe, 429.6, (512), 258.4, (308)

Northumberland, 428.6, (1382), 271.1, (874)

Brighton and Hove, 423.5, (1232), 287.7, (837)

Warwick, 420.2, (604), 396.5, (570)

Nottingham, 414.8, (1381), 317.5, (1057)

Ribble Valley, 412.2, (251), 366.2, (223)

Doncaster, 403.0, (1257), 184.0, (574)

York, 395.5, (833), 362.3, (763)

Gedling, 388.5, (458), 232.4, (274)

Bury, 381.2, (728), 389.0, (743)

Blackburn with Darwen, 380.8, (570), 521.1, (780)

Wyre, 372.0, (417), 279.2, (313)

Chorley, 371.4, (439), 359.5, (425)

Pendle, 370.2, (341), 383.2, (353)

Stockport, 368.8, (1082), 277.4, (814)

Harrogate, 358.8, (577), 202.1, (325)

Warrington, 357.6, (751), 326.6, (686)

Fylde, 356.5, (288), 283.5, (229)

Cambridge, 355.0, (443), 272.4, (340)

Brentwood, 354.4, (273), 187.0, (144)

Broxtowe, 353.4, (403), 177.1, (202)

Epsom and Ewell, 351.0, (283), 224.5, (181)

Charnwood, 349.7, (650), 170.0, (316)

North West Leicestershire, 348.4, (361), 135.1, (140)

Stoke-on-Trent, 347.1, (890), 199.7, (512)

Lambeth, 343.5, (1120), 232.5, (758)

Selby, 338.8, (307), 184.3, (167)

Gloucester, 334.6, (432), 307.4, (397)

Preston, 333.3, (477), 359.8, (515)

Halton, 330.7, (428), 211.0, (273)

Wandsworth, 330.6, (1090), 223.6, (737)

Hammersmith and Fulham, 330.6, (612), 238.2, (441)

Birmingham, 330.1, (3769), 239.6, (2736)

Calderdale, 328.2, (694), 315.9, (668)

Hastings, 328.1, (304), 171.6, (159)

St Albans, 324.0, (481), 149.5, (222)

Staffordshire Moorlands, 320.0, (315), 157.5, (155)

Worcester, 316.1, (320), 133.4, (135)

Lichfield, 315.0, (330), 182.3, (191)

Tower Hamlets, 314.7, (1022), 194.6, (632)

Bradford, 314.2, (1696), 231.0, (1247)

Bolton, 313.7, (902), 286.6, (824)

Nuneaton and Bedworth, 310.3, (403), 126.3, (164)

Erewash, 307.7, (355), 160.4, (185)

South Gloucestershire, 307.6, (877), 197.1, (562)

Islington, 307.3, (745), 227.2, (551)

South Ribble, 306.9, (340), 368.3, (408)

Sheffield, 306.4, (1792), 192.5, (1126)

Southwark, 304.2, (970), 224.9, (717)

Lincoln, 303.1, (301), 129.9, (129)

Cheshire West and Chester, 299.4, (1027), 250.7, (860)

East Staffordshire, 294.8, (353), 164.5, (197)

Sandwell, 294.1, (966), 160.5, (527)

Harlow, 292.9, (255), 129.8, (113)

Newcastle-under-Lyme, 292.8, (379), 140.6, (182)

Dacorum, 290.1, (449), 175.1, (271)

Epping Forest, 289.3, (381), 116.9, (154)

Coventry, 288.8, (1073), 185.7, (690)

Hackney and City of London, 288.1, (838), 199.4, (580)

Kirklees, 286.3, (1259), 203.1, (893)

Central Bedfordshire, 286.2, (826), 148.6, (429)

Hambleton, 283.9, (260), 146.3, (134)

Kensington and Chelsea, 283.1, (442), 217.1, (339)

Bath and North East Somerset, 283.0, (547), 155.2, (300)

Richmondshire, 279.2, (150), 223.3, (120)

Rugby, 279.1, (304), 161.6, (176)

Telford and Wrekin, 277.4, (499), 181.8, (327)

North Somerset, 276.7, (595), 152.5, (328)

Torbay, 276.7, (377), 118.2, (161)

Southampton, 274.8, (694), 158.8, (401)

Adur, 273.7, (176), 152.4, (98)

Copeland, 269.9, (184), 123.2, (84)

Mid Sussex, 269.5, (407), 136.4, (206)

Stratford-on-Avon, 265.2, (345), 159.1, (207)

Chelmsford, 264.6, (472), 119.4, (213)

Tewkesbury, 263.1, (250), 279.9, (266)

Lewisham, 262.9, (804), 166.8, (510)

Bromsgrove, 260.3, (260), 143.2, (143)

South Lakeland, 259.8, (273), 177.0, (186)

Exeter, 259.5, (341), 263.3, (346)

Chiltern, 258.5, (248), 140.7, (135)

South Northamptonshire, 255.1, (241), 91.0, (86)

Colchester, 253.2, (493), 152.0, (296)

Rotherham, 252.8, (671), 136.0, (361)

Eastleigh, 252.3, (337), 119.0, (159)

Cheshire East, 250.2, (961), 184.3, (708)

Luton, 247.8, (528), 157.7, (336)

Stafford, 246.2, (338), 150.8, (207)

East Hertfordshire, 245.7, (368), 187.6, (281)

Daventry, 245.5, (211), 110.5, (95)

South Derbyshire, 245.2, (263), 147.3, (158)

Milton Keynes, 244.9, (660), 141.0, (380)

North Lincolnshire, 243.8, (420), 81.8, (141)

Camden, 243.7, (658), 194.1, (524)

Aylesbury Vale, 243.7, (486), 134.4, (268)

Newark and Sherwood, 241.8, (296), 104.6, (128)

Bassetlaw, 241.8, (284), 115.8, (136)

Barrow-in-Furness, 241.6, (162), 198.4, (133)

Plymouth, 241.5, (633), 102.6, (269)

Uttlesford, 241.0, (220), 150.1, (137)

Cheltenham, 239.0, (278), 265.7, (309)

Three Rivers, 237.9, (222), 123.2, (115)

Wycombe, 237.6, (415), 170.1, (297)

Reading, 236.7, (383), 234.9, (380)

Craven, 236.3, (135), 224.0, (128)

Haringey, 234.9, (631), 177.9, (478)

Watford, 233.0, (225), 98.4, (95)

Bedford, 232.6, (403), 132.7, (230)

Wellingborough, 232.1, (185), 91.6, (73)

East Riding of Yorkshire, 230.4, (786), 126.0, (430)

South Oxfordshire, 228.8, (325), 143.6, (204)

Oadby and Wigston, 228.0, (130), 199.9, (114)

Wolverhampton, 227.1, (598), 145.1, (382)

Walsall, 227.0, (648), 113.1, (323)

Maidstone, 225.2, (387), 140.3, (241)

Greenwich, 225.0, (648), 144.5, (416)

Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole, 224.4, (887), 186.2, (736)

South Bucks, 224.1, (157), 112.8, (79)

West Oxfordshire, 224.1, (248), 74.1, (82)

Canterbury, 223.1, (369), 218.3, (361)

Allerdale, 223.0, (218), 115.6, (113)

Westminster, 222.3, (581), 176.4, (461)

East Lindsey, 222.3, (315), 99.5, (141)

Chesterfield, 222.1, (233), 141.1, (148)

Teignbridge, 221.4, (297), 75.3, (101)

Sutton, 220.5, (455), 145.4, (300)

Amber Valley, 220.1, (282), 107.7, (138)

Eden, 219.7, (117), 159.6, (85)

Crawley, 218.8, (246), 143.2, (161)

Leicester, 218.2, (773), 155.3, (550)

Blaby, 217.7, (221), 150.7, (153)

West Lindsey, 217.4, (208), 93.0, (89)

Arun, 217.1, (349), 84.0, (135)

Lewes, 216.9, (224), 95.9, (99)

Hillingdon, 215.7, (662), 123.5, (379)

Ealing, 215.0, (735), 170.0, (581)

Waltham Forest, 214.1, (593), 161.4, (447)

Rochford, 214.0, (187), 98.4, (86)

Reigate and Banstead, 213.8, (318), 115.6, (172)

Ashfield, 213.4, (273), 126.6, (162)

Tunbridge Wells, 213.1, (253), 112.9, (134)

Cherwell, 211.3, (318), 128.2, (193)

Scarborough, 210.6, (229), 190.3, (207)

Richmond upon Thames, 210.1, (416), 164.1, (325)

Hull, 209.0, (543), 90.1, (234)

Derby, 208.3, (536), 164.8, (424)

North East Derbyshire, 208.0, (211), 125.2, (127)

Braintree, 207.7, (317), 87.8, (134)

Broxbourne, 207.7, (202), 121.3, (118)

Elmbridge, 207.6, (284), 152.8, (209)

Stroud, 207.6, (249), 135.0, (162)

Dudley, 207.1, (666), 141.2, (454)

Portsmouth, 206.1, (443), 163.8, (352)

Merton, 205.8, (425), 129.3, (267)

Basingstoke and Deane, 205.6, (363), 119.5, (211)

Melton, 205.0, (105), 136.7, (70)

Redbridge, 204.4, (624), 128.8, (393)

Bexley, 204.2, (507), 105.9, (263)

Southend-on-Sea, 202.6, (371), 89.0, (163)

Wyre Forest, 202.4, (205), 81.9, (83)

Vale of White Horse, 202.2, (275), 84.6, (115)

Winchester, 201.8, (252), 105.7, (132)

Horsham, 199.6, (287), 105.0, (151)

Redditch, 198.2, (169), 78.6, (67)

Hertsmere, 197.3, (207), 134.4, (141)

Runnymede, 196.8, (176), 98.4, (88)

Boston, 196.7, (138), 175.3, (123)

Stevenage, 194.7, (171), 120.7, (106)

Barnet, 193.8, (767), 145.5, (576)

Derbyshire Dales, 193.6, (140), 109.2, (79)

Rutland, 192.9, (77), 145.3, (58)

Gravesham, 192.6, (206), 134.7, (144)

North Hertfordshire, 192.4, (257), 181.9, (243)

Basildon, 191.8, (359), 104.2, (195)

Spelthorne, 190.3, (190), 110.2, (110)

Welwyn Hatfield, 190.2, (234), 137.4, (169)

Croydon, 190.1, (735), 116.4, (450)

Sevenoaks, 188.8, (228), 120.9, (146)

Test Valley, 188.6, (238), 114.9, (145)

Harborough, 187.6, (176), 143.9, (135)

Hinckley and Bosworth, 186.5, (211), 102.5, (116)

South Hams, 185.0, (161), 83.9, (73)

Bracknell Forest, 184.4, (226), 129.7, (159)

Brent, 184.4, (608), 106.7, (352)

Cannock Chase, 183.6, (185), 97.3, (98)

Chichester, 183.3, (222), 108.1, (131)

Mansfield, 183.0, (200), 87.8, (96)

Newham, 181.5, (641), 131.1, (463)

Cotswold, 178.1, (160), 126.9, (114)

Swindon, 177.8, (395), 78.3, (174)

Tonbridge and Malling, 175.6, (232), 120.3, (159)

Rushmoor, 175.5, (166), 109.9, (104)

North Kesteven, 175.3, (205), 88.1, (103)

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, 174.0, (995), 173.0, (989)

Bolsover, 173.8, (140), 122.9, (99)

Dartford, 173.2, (195), 109.2, (123)

South Cambridgeshire, 172.2, (274), 115.0, (183)

Maldon, 171.0, (111), 83.2, (54)

Kingston upon Thames, 170.7, (303), 125.1, (222)

Havering, 169.9, (441), 106.3, (276)

Ryedale, 169.7, (94), 115.6, (64)

Rother, 169.7, (163), 73.9, (71)

Malvern Hills, 169.0, (133), 119.4, (94)

Wiltshire, 168.4, (842), 123.8, (619)

Hounslow, 167.9, (456), 123.7, (336)

Bromley, 166.4, (553), 92.1, (306)

Shropshire, 166.2, (537), 129.7, (419)

South Staffordshire, 165.4, (186), 98.7, (111)

Mole Valley, 163.9, (143), 176.5, (154)

Tandridge, 163.4, (144), 101.0, (89)

Guildford, 162.4, (242), 132.2, (197)

Waverley, 161.5, (204), 112.4, (142)

Barking and Dagenham, 160.2, (341), 101.0, (215)

Surrey Heath, 160.1, (143), 86.2, (77)

Harrow, 158.5, (398), 115.5, (290)

Worthing, 158.3, (175), 84.1, (93)

Tendring, 156.2, (229), 55.3, (81)

Peterborough, 156.2, (316), 88.5, (179)

Castle Point, 156.0, (141), 64.2, (58)

Windsor and Maidenhead, 155.9, (236), 136.0, (206)

Woking, 155.8, (157), 92.3, (93)

Huntingdonshire, 154.5, (275), 66.9, (119)

Hart, 152.5, (148), 97.9, (95)

East Devon, 149.7, (219), 103.9, (152)

Swale, 149.3, (224), 56.6, (85)

Havant, 147.4, (186), 95.1, (120)

East Hampshire, 147.2, (180), 79.3, (97)

Fareham, 143.7, (167), 92.1, (107)

New Forest, 143.3, (258), 83.8, (151)

Thurrock, 142.8, (249), 60.2, (105)

South Kesteven, 142.5, (203), 68.1, (97)

Wealden, 142.4, (230), 81.7, (132)

Slough, 137.8, (206), 101.6, (152)

Medway, 133.9, (373), 82.9, (231)

Wychavon, 132.1, (171), 85.8, (111)

Enfield, 131.8, (440), 91.1, (304)

Mid Devon, 131.2, (108), 98.4, (81)

West Berkshire, 128.7, (204), 78.9, (125)

Folkestone and Hythe, 126.6, (143), 52.2, (59)

East Northamptonshire, 125.9, (119), 96.3, (91)

Wokingham, 124.5, (213), 129.1, (221)

Forest of Dean, 124.4, (108), 65.7, (57)

Norwich, 122.4, (172), 80.4, (113)

Ashford, 115.4, (150), 59.2, (77)

Corby, 114.9, (83), 62.3, (45)

Babergh, 114.1, (105), 63.0, (58)

Northampton, 110.9, (249), 65.0, (146)

Dorset, 108.3, (410), 79.0, (299)

Mendip, 108.1, (125), 58.8, (68)

Great Yarmouth, 106.7, (106), 29.2, (29)

North Devon, 104.0, (101), 65.9, (64)

East Cambridgeshire, 103.5, (93), 47.9, (43)

West Devon, 102.2, (57), 37.6, (21)

Ipswich, 100.1, (137), 21.2, (29)

Sedgemoor, 98.2, (121), 97.4, (120)

Herefordshire, 98.0, (189), 53.9, (104)

Eastbourne, 97.4, (101), 47.2, (49)

Dover, 97.3, (115), 70.3, (83)

South Somerset, 94.4, (159), 58.8, (99)

West Suffolk, 93.8, (168), 53.1, (95)

Broadland, 93.3, (122), 30.6, (40)

Somerset West and Taunton, 92.8, (144), 83.2, (129)

Gosport, 87.2, (74), 76.6, (65)

Kettering, 82.5, (84), 48.1, (49)

South Norfolk, 81.6, (115), 43.3, (61)

Fenland, 79.5, (81), 42.2, (43)

Torridge, 76.2, (52), 95.2, (65)

King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, 75.3, (114), 29.1, (44)

Mid Suffolk, 66.4, (69), 51.0, (53)

Thanet, 65.5, (93), 40.9, (58)

Breckland, 60.0, (84), 28.6, (40)

Isle of Wight, 57.8, (82), 22.6, (32)

South Holland, 52.6, (50), 62.1, (59)

East Suffolk, 50.9, (127), 29.3, (73)

North Norfolk, 42.9, (45), 18.1, (19)

The list has been calculated by the PA news agency based on Public Health England data published on July 6 on the Government’s coronavirus dashboard.