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Video report by ITV News political correspondent Shehab Khan
COVID-19 case rates are increasing everywhere in England and the Prime Minister has warned that there is “no question” that stricter measures are needed to control the virus.
NHS hospitals are under increasing pressure with a growing number of coronavirus patients requiring care.
Most areas of the country report a record number of Covid-19 patients in hospital, beyond the peaks seen in April.
Here’s a summary of the case rate in your area and the number of Covid patients at your local hospitals.
London
The capital has the highest regional rate of new Covid-19 cases in England, and the number is rising.
In the seven days to December 30, the rate stood at 934.3 cases per 100,000 people, an increase of almost 100 from the previous week and more than 400 since early December.
Barking & Dagenham has the highest rate in England (1,402.5) and Redbridge has the third highest rate (1,339.7).
Of the 25 highest local rates in England, 11 are in London.
This is reflected in the record number of Covid-19 patients in London hospitals.
A total of 6,358 patients were hospitalized in the capital at 8 a.m. M. From January 3, more than double than two weeks ago and well beyond the peak of the first wave in April, when the number of patients increased to 5,201.
All of London is on Level 4.
East england
Eastern England has the second highest regional rate of new Covid-19 cases.
It currently stands at 683.7, almost 100 more than the previous week and more than 300 than the previous week.
Six of the 10 highest local rates in England are found in this region, including Thurrock, Epping Forest and Broxbourne (1,292.2).
More Covid-19 patients are in hospitals in eastern England than at any time since the pandemic began.
The number stood at 3,395 at 8 a.m. on January 3, up 74% in just two weeks and well above the first wave peak of 1,679. All of eastern England is on Level 4.
South East England
The trend here is similar to that in London and eastern England: a sharp increase in case rates and a record number of patients in hospital.
The seven-day rate for south-east England is currently 609.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, up from 504.9 a week ago and 356.0 two weeks ago.
Dartford has the highest rate in the region, followed by Gravesham and Rushmoor.
Some 4,501 Covid-19 patients were in the hospital as of 8 a.m. on Jan.3, a 76% increase in two weeks and almost double the peak number from the first wave (2,347).
As with its neighboring regions, the entire south east of England is currently at Level 4.
West midlands
Regional case rates are lowest in all regions outside the south and east of England, but the numbers have started to rise in recent weeks.
In the West Midlands, the rate is currently 389.9, up from 278.3 a week ago and 215.3 two weeks earlier.
Wolverhampton has the highest rate in the region, followed by Sandwell and Walsall.
The data for the West Midlands regional hospitals are published alongside those for the East Midlands.
The total number of Covid-19 patients in the Midlands was 4,065 as of 8 a.m. on Jan.3. This is a record, and well past the peak of 3,430 on the first wave.
West Midlands is currently at Level 4. Worcestershire and Shropshire are at Level 3, although the rates in these areas are now at the same level as places at Level 4.
East Midlands
The rate for the East Midlands is currently 325.0 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to December 30, up from 265.8 in the prior week and 214.7 two weeks earlier.
Northampton has the highest rate in the region, followed by South Northamptonshire and Ashfield.
A record number of Covid-19 patients are hospitalized in the Midlands.
All of the East Midlands are at Level 4 except Rutland which is at Level 3 and where the rate is currently 215.4.
South West England
The South West of England has the second lowest rate of any region with 269.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. But this is an increase from the previous weeks.
Bournemouth Christchurch & Poole has the highest local rate in the region, followed by Swindon and Gloucester.
There were 1,323 patients in the hospital with Covid-19 in south-west England at 8 a.m. on Jan.3, a record number and a 20% increase in one week.
The region is a mix of Level 4 and Level 3 restrictions, although some Level 3 areas, including Bristol, North Somerset, and Wiltshire, have higher rates than neighboring areas under more stringent restrictions.
The Isles of Scilly are on Level 1.
North West England
The rate of new cases in the North West of England has risen sharply and is at its highest level since the beginning of November, just after the lockdown began across England.
The current rate is 351.8 for the week through December 30, compared to 223.1 for the week through December 23.
Carlisle currently has the highest local rate in the region, rising to 765.6 from 332.2.
Burnley and Eden have the next highest rates.
The number of hospital patients throughout the region is below the maximum level observed in mid-November, but has increased by 11% from 2,226 on December 27 to 2,605 on January 3.
The entire region is a Level 4, except the Liverpool City Region, which is on Level 3.
Northeast England
The rate in this region has also increased considerably from 222.9 to 340.5.
Hartlepool has the highest local rate, followed by South Tyneside and Sunderland.
Hospital data from North East England is combined with neighboring Yorkshire and the Humber region.
Across the area, the number of Covid-19 patients stood at 2,710 on January 3, down from the high of 3,473 in mid-November, but up 11% from week to week.
All of Northeast England is on Level 4.
Yorkshire and humber
The rate here is the lowest of any region in England – 244.3 cases per 100,000 people – but still an increase from the previous week.
Case rates have risen sharply in some areas. In York, the rate has risen weekly from 218.9 to 428.3, the highest in the region.
Hospital data is combined with data from the North East of England and shows that overall patient levels are still below the mid-November peak.
Yorkshire and the Humber is the only region completely on Level 3.
