The rate of Covid-19 cases in Newcastle has more than doubled since the start of March - and it continues to rise as the BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron impacts on our region.
There are eight areas on the North East to see Covid-19 rates of more than 1,000 per 100,000 people over the seven days to March 16 - with Gosforth still a focal point for the virus and areas of North Tyneside now hit hard too.
Covid-19 testing infrastructure is about to be wound-down - it will no longer be possible to get free PCR tests or lateral flow tests from April 1 - while the Government is ramping up its effort to invite the over-75s and others who are in vulnerable groups for a fourth Covid-19 vaccine.
Yesterday, while announcing a reduction in hospital visiting restrictions, the director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals at the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust warned that Covid has "not gone away". Marion Dixon said: "We know that people are looking ahead and hoping to move forward as society opens up after an extremely difficult time for us all, but it is worth remembering that Covid-19 has not gone away and that hospitals contain some of the most vulnerable people in our communities."
In the North East the local authority area with the highest rate of Covid-19 - according to Government data covering the seven days to March 16 - is Northumberland . There the case rate per 100,000 people has climbed to 727.9. There were 2,437 new cases in that week-long period, which is the most the county has seen since February 5 and an 65.6% increase on a week earlier.
In North Tyneside the rate is growing fast too - it's up to 699 cases per 100,000. That equates to 1,460 cases and a rise of 70.4%, while in the city of Newcastle itself the rate has hit 596.8. That's an increase of more than 50% and accounts for 1831 cases. That is the most in a single week since February 7, but still thankfully someway short of the peak of more than 8,000 seen in the first week of 2022.
In County Durham there were a staggering 3,008 cases over the week - which equals a rate of 564.2 and an 84.8% increase on the week before - but the rate of increase has at least begun to stabilise, though it still looks like the county - like the region as a whole - is on an upward curve when it comes to the prevalence of Covid-19.
Sunderland has the next highest rate. There it has hit 544.5 per 100,000 people, which accounts for 1,513 cases and is a rise of 77.6% week on week. Gateshead faces a similar situation, with a rate of 523.4 and 1,057 cases over a week. That's a rise of 82.9% and the borough's figures look to be catching up to others in the area.
However in South Tyneside, the rise in Covid-19 cases is less sharp and the overall rate is still the lowest in our area. The rate is 394.4 and that's increased just 45.7% over a week. There had been 596 cases.
This compares to a UK-wide rate which is higher than any seen in our region at 831.8. Across the country we have seen more than half a million Covid-19 cases in a week - but after climbing rapidly around a week ago, the case rate rise has begun to slow nationally, and is now at 45.1%. Of course, that remains a cause for concern.
These are the ten areas with the highest Covid-19 rates in the North East over the week to March 16:
North Gosforth - 1,305 cases per 100,000, 133 new cases
Alnwick - 1,236 cases per 100,000, 84 new cases
South Gosforth - 1,120.1 cases per 100,000, 107 new cases
Coxlodge & West Gosforth - 1,116.8 cases per 100,000, 116 new cases
West Monkseaton - 1,093.8 cases per 100,000, 64 new cases
Ashington West - 1,083.7 cases per 100,000, 80 new cases
Tynemouth West - 1,047.6 cases per 100,000, 61 new cases
Kingston Park & Dinnington - 1,034.1 cases per 100,000, 143 new cases
Shiremoor North & South Wellfield - 988.3 cases per 100,000, 76 new cases
North Heaton - 982 cases per 100,000, 84 new cases
