Covid infections have risen in two areas of the Liverpool CIty Region.
According to the latest data from Public Health England, both Liverpool and St Helens have recorded infection surges of almost 40 per cent in each local government area.
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Liverpool had 3,214 positive covid infections in the seven days ending December 17 - that's 899 more positive tests than the previous seven days.
And St Helens had 968 positive covid infections in the seven days ending December 17 - that's 272 more positive tests than the previous seven days.
This meant the week-on-week percentage change figures increased by 39% in both Liverpool and St Helens.
The four other local government areas of the city region saw rises in Covid infections. The week-on-week percentage change figures increased by: 18% in Knowsley; 22% in Halton; 30% in Sefton; and, 31% in Wirral.
Overall in the Liverpool City Region, the week-on-week percentage change figure increased by 32%.
Cases rose in the local government areas of Cheshire West and Chester, Warrington, and West Lancs.
Infections increased in England in the week ending December 17. The country recorded 483,754 coronavirus cases in England - that's 184,558 more cases than in the previous seven days.
Liverpool
Liverpool's positive tests came to 3,214 cases in the week ending December 17, which is 899 more cases than in the previous week.
This meant the week-on-week percentage change figure increased by 39%.
The latest infection rate was 642.2 cases per 100,000 people.
Halton
There were 867 positive tests over the last week, which is 155 more cases than in the previous week.
This means the week-on-week percentage change figure increased by 22% in Halton in the week ending December 17.
The latest infection rate is 668.2 cases per 100,000 people.
St Helens
There was a total of 968 cases in the week ending December 17, which is 272 more cases than in the previous week.
The latest infection rate in St Helens is 534.5 cases per 100,000 people and the week-on-week percentage change figure increased by 39%.
Knowsley
There was a total of 843 cases in the week ending December 17, which is 126 more cases than in the previous week.
The latest infection rate in Knowsley is 553.0 cases per 100,000 people and the week-on-week percentage change figure increased by 18%.
Wirral
There were 2,035 positive tests in the week ending December 17, which is 486 more cases than in the previous week.
Wirral 's week-on-week percentage change figure increased by 31%. The latest infection rate was 627.4 cases per 100,000 people.
Sefton
Sefton had a total of 1,583 cases in the week ending December 17, which is a 369 more cases than in the previous week.
The latest infection rate is 573.8 cases per 100,000 people and the number of cases increased by 30% week on week.
Liverpool City Region
There were 9,510 positive tests over in the week ending December 17, which is 2,307 more cases than in the previous week.
This means the week-on-week percentage change increased by 32%. The latest infection rate is 558.51 cases per 100,000 people.
West Lancs
West Lancashire recorded 558 coronavirus cases in the week ending December 17, which is 95 more cases than in the previous seven days.
This meant there was a week-on-week percentage figure increased by 21%. The infection rate was 487.35 per 100,000 people.
Warrington
There were 1,657 positive Covid-19 tests in the week ending December 17, which is 498 more cases than the previous week.
The week-on-week percentage figure increased by 43%. There was an infection rate of 791.32 per 100,000 people.
Cheshire West and Chester
There were 2,419 positive Covid-19 tests in the week ending December 17, which is 320 more cases than the previous week.
The latest infection rate is 703.56 cases per 100,000 people, and there was a week-on-week percentage increase of 15% in cases.
England
In the week ending December 17, England recorded 483,754 coronavirus cases, which is 184,558 more cases than in the previous seven days.
There was a week-on-week percentage increase of 62% in cases nationally, and there was an infection rate of 855.44 per 100,000 people.
