Sunderland and South Tyneside among highest coronavirus infection rates in England

Sunderland and South Tyneside have some of the highest COVID-19 infection rates in England, figures have revealed.
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According to the latest data compiled by health chiefs, Sunderland and South Tyneside have had the second and third most cases, relative to population, respectively.

The numbers, which record the total number of infections up to Sunday, May 10, are due to be debated by care leaders at the South Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) on Thursday May 21.

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But a report for the CCG’s Governing Body also warned they should be treated with caution due to the nature of the current coronavirus testing regime.

A technician shows a nasal swab during a rehearsal of a COVID-19 testing session (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)A technician shows a nasal swab during a rehearsal of a COVID-19 testing session (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
A technician shows a nasal swab during a rehearsal of a COVID-19 testing session (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

It said: “These rates will continue to increase as testing becomes more widespread and hence positive cases increase.

“On this day [May 10], South Tyneside had the third highest local authority rate in England, Sunderland the second highest.

“However, this position relative to others changes daily.

“Also, there are many factors to consider when comparing areas, which makes this an unreliable measure of both the prevalence of Covid and the scale of the prevalence relative to other areas.”

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According to the findings, up to May 10 Sunderland had a COVID infection rate of 477.6 per 100,000, while in South Tyneside it was 447.9.

Gateshead was the highest in the region, with 478.5, while Middlesbrough and Cumbria, which is included in the North East Integrated Care System (ICS), also had rates above 400 per 100,000.

Stockton, in Teesside, had the lowest rate of the ICS’s 13 local authority areas.

The paper, made public today (Monday, May 18), added it is important to ‘note the fast pace of changes that are being implemented in the Covid and post-Covid phases’ and data may already be out of date by the time NHS bosses meet on Thursday (May 21).

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The report also referenced ‘age-standardised’ death rates from the virus, which allow better comparisons across areas, which found the figure for South Tyneside was ‘not statistically different from the total England rate’.

Cumulative cases per 100,000 to May 10

Gateshead – 478.5 Sunderland – 477.6 South Tyneside – 447.9 Middlesbrough – 446.8 Cumbria – 423.9 Newcastle – 336.1 County Durham – 327.9 Darlington – 312.5 Northumberland – 272.3 Redcar and Cleveland – 272.1 North Tyneside – 258.3 Hartlepool – 251.0

Stockton – 227.2

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