One in every 13 people had Covid-19 last week according to the Office for National Statistics - and although fewer tests are being taken in the North East, the latest data shows hundreds are still testing positive each day.
Free Covid-19 testing ended on March 31 - and the Government's data showing seven-day Covid rates now includes two full days where mass testing was not available. But even so, case rates remain high - and the ONS data adds to the evidence that the virus remains widespread.
The lack of free testing is likely to have begun to affect the Government figures - and the Government added a warning to its data to reflect that the changes would affect almost every metric on the national coronavirus dashboard - but as it stands the numbers still show high levels of infection in areas of the North East. And places like Newbiggin in Northumberland and Belmont & Carrville in County Durham are still badly hit.
