The North East has the highest case rate in the UK, according to the latest government data.
All seven of the region's local authority areas continue to be listed as Covid 'blackspots', with more than 1,600 per 100,000 people testing positive for the virus.
They remain in the highest category on the coronavirus data website, along with parts of Teesside, while other UK regions drop into a category for less severe case rates.
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Data for the seven days to January 11, 2022, showed that South Tyneside had the second highest case rate in the UK, with 2,313.9 per 100,000 people testing positive for the virus.
Middlesbrough had the highest, with a case rate of 2,395.2 per 100,000 people testing positive for the virus.
During this time South Tyneside recorded 3,497 positive cases.
The North East authority area with the second highest case rate was Sunderland, which recorded a case rate of 2,273.2 per 100,000 people and 6,316 positive cases.
This was followed by North Tyneside, with a recorded case rate of 2,120.9 per 100,000 people and 4,430 positive cases.
The remaining North East authority areas all recorded less than 2,000 per 100,000 people testing positive for Covid-19.
Northumberland had a case rate of 1,975.8 per 100,000 and 6,398 recorded positive cases.
While Newcastle recorded a case rate of 1,779.8 per 100,000 people and 5,461 recorded positive cases.
County Durham had the lowest recorded case rate in the region, with 1,821.1 per 100,000 people testing positive for the virus and 9,709 recorded cases.
Despite the region recording the most severe case rates in the UK, all authority areas did see a reduction in case rates relevant to the previous seven days:
- Northumberland: -1,359 (-17.5%)
- Newcastle: -1,017 (-15.7%)
- North Tyneside: -1,017 (-15.7%)
- Gateshead: -986 (-20.2%)
- South Tyneside: -125 (-3.5%)
- Sunderland: -501 (-7.3%)
- County Durham: -2,147 (-18.1%)
All additional UK Covid 'blackspots' where cases are more than 1,600 per 100,000 people:
Hartlepool: 2,252.9
Stockton-on-Tees: 2,098.1
Darlington: 1,856.6
Middlesbrough: 2,395.2
Redcar and Cleveland: 1,973.4
Bradford: 1,611.1
Blackburn with Darwen: 1,892.3
Wakefield: 1,678.9
Barnsley: 1,831.3
Doncaster: 1,637.2
Rotherham: 1,612.2
Walsall: 1,618.3
Wolverhampton: 1,653.1
Sandwell: 1,623.2
