Sunderland has highest weekly coronavirus infection rate in the North East

The latest figures from Public Health England show there were 1,168 cases in the seven days to January 15 (later dates are excluded for reasons of accuracy).

That is the equivalent of 420.6 new infections per 100,000 people, almost a third more than second-placed County Durham with a rate of 324.1 cases per 100,000 population.

Gateshead is third in the North East league table, with a rate of 312.3, followed by South Tyneside, Newcastle and Northumberland.

North Tyneside has the lowest weekly rate of infection, with 440 new cases – the equivalent of 211.6 per 100,000, barely half of the Wearside rate.

Despite being the highest in Tyne and Wear, Sunderland’s weekly rate is well below the national average.

There were 279,916 new cases across England in the seven days to January 15, the equivalent of 457.3 per 100,000.

Yesterday, Wednesday, January 20, saw 151 new cases confirmed in the city.

Across the UK, it was announced that 38,905 more people have tested positive for Coronavirus, bringing the total since the start of the pandemic to 3,505,754.

The news comes as the Government announces Covid vaccine doses will be diverted to areas of the UK which have fallen behind the national rollout schedule before further jabs can be administered in areas which are ahead.

There are concerns a ‘postcode lottery’ system is emerging, as some areas have managed to distribute vaccines faster than others.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said that stocks of the vaccine will be prioritised for those areas which still have a significant number of people over-80 yet to be vaccinated.

He said that “prioritising the supply of the vaccine into those parts of the country that need to complete the over-80s, but we don’t want to stop the areas that have effectively done that job already”.

North East covid case rates per 100,000 people

(Based on Public Health England data in week to January 15)

Sunderland – 420.6

County Durham – 324.1

Gateshead – 312.3

South Tyneside – 312

Newcastle – 281.7

Northumberland – 253.1

North Tyneside – 211.6

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