The 7 worst Covid hotspots right now as cases surge 30% – is your area on the list?
THIS interactive map shows the areas that have the most Covid infections across the UK.
The darkest areas are where cases are highest, with clusters of the bug now appearing across the country.
Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has revealed the seven Omicron hotspots.
These are all areas where cases range from 500 to 1,000 in individual local authorities.
Cases have yet to reach over 1,000 in any areas of the UK and the figures refer to the number of infections reported in each area.
The seven most infected local authority areas are:
- Leeds – 830
- Birmingham – 819
- Sheffield – 809
- Cornwall and Isles of Scilly – 720
- Wiltshire – 689
- County Durham – 609
- East Riding of Yorkshire – 546
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From the map, you can see how high infection rates in some areas, have spilled over to neighbouring authorities.
For example, the areas surrounding Wiltshire, such as Dorset, South Somerset and Test Valley all have rates of infection between 200 and 500 cases.
A similar pattern can also be seen around Birmingham, with adjoining areas such as Solihull and Sandwell seeing an uptick in cases.
The figures from the UKHSA come after the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last week revealed that cases had risen by over 30 per cent in just a week.
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However, millions of Brits have now have their coronavirus vaccines -which offers the best protection from severe illness of the bug.
The Omicron variant, which is currently circulating, has also been proven to be milder than others than came before it.
But experts have this week warned of a new subvariant that has been detected in Singapore.
Medics have dubbed it XBB and so far it’s been found in over 17 countries.
It’s not yet clear if the strain has made it to the UK, with surveillance programs ongoing.
Amesh Adalja, a public-health expert at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security said: “It is likely the most immune-evasive [subvariant] and poses problems for current monoclonal antibody-based treatments and prevention strategy.
“Even with immune-evasive variants, vaccine protection against what matters most – severe disease – remains intact.”
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In a statement Dr Meera Chand, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections at the UKHSA said: “UKHSA continues to monitor and assess all emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, both in the UK and around the world.
“As we head into winter and cases rise, make sure you have any Covid-19 vaccinations you are eligible for and avoid contact with others if you are unwell or have symptoms of a respiratory infection.”
As medics urge people to come forward for their jabs, campaigners and charities have asked the government to provide a ‘life-changing’ drug to those who had to shield during the harshest waves of the pandemic.
Many of these people were unable to have a jab due to medical reasons.
Evusheld will give the vulnerable some protection against the virus.
It’s made by AstraZeneca and was approved by the medicines regulator in March.
Since then it’s also become available in 30 other countries.
Despite its widespread use, the UK government said it won’t buy more doses until it has more data.
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This is due to concerns of how well it will work against the Omicron variant that is currently circulating in the UK.
The Department of Health said it’s urgently looking into commissioning a clinical trial for the drug.