Calderdale now in top 20 highest infection rates of coronavirus across UK

The latest figures for Tuesday's update of the rolling seven-day rate of new cases of Covid-19 for every local authority in England, put Calderdale 17th place for highest infection rates.

The figures, which are for the seven days to July 11, are based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government's testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).

Deborah Harkins, Director of Public Health at Calderdale Council, said: "Calderdale has had a low number of cases of Covid-19 compared to other areas in West Yorkshire. but our rate of cases is increasing while neighbouring councils like Bradford and Kirklees are falling."

Between July 3 and 10, Bradford (which has the highest number of cases in Yorkshire) was at 34.1, but 37.6 the week before, Kirklees (which has the second highest in Yorkshire) was at 27.6, but 33.7 the week before.

Calderdale's rate between the dates was 19.5 (43 cases), but a week prior was almost half at 12.4.

"Case numbers in absolute terms remain low," said Ms Harkins.

"The seven-day rate equates to 43 cases in the seven-day period.

"The rate of pillar 2 tests has shown a steady increase and is now at 759.5 per 100,0000.

"Calderdale has increased testing since the start of the month, a 50% increase in the past 14 days.

"Not all of the increase in cases can be explained by outbreaks that we know about.

"There is a relatively high rate of contacts per case which could indicate larger households have cases or a lack or adherence to social distancing or a combination of both.

"The rate is expressed as the new number of new cases per 100,000 population."

In Leicester, where there is a borough-wide lockdown, the rate has risen slightly from 115.1 cases per 100,000 in the seven days to July 4 to 118.2 in the seven days to July 11.

Second on the list is Pendle, in Lancashire, where the rate has gone up from 14.2 to 76.6.

This has been caused by a jump in new cases recorded on July 6 and 7, though subsequent days have not yet seen a similar spike.

Other areas reporting notable week-on-week jumps include:

- Blackburn with Darwen (up from 31.6 to 47.0, with 70 new cases in the seven days to July 11)

- Herefordshire (up from 1.6 to 37.0, where 71 new cases have so far been recorded in the seven days to July 11, linked to an outbreak on a farm near Worcester)

- Peterborough (up from 13.9 to 32.3, with 65 new cases recorded in the seven days to July 11)

- Rochdale (up from 28.6 to 39.1, with 86 new cases in the seven days to July 11)

The list is based on latest Public Health England figures updated on July 14 on the Government's coronavirus online dashboard.

Data for the most recent three days (July 12 to 14) has been excluded as it is incomplete and likely to be revised.

Here is the list in full, showing the rate of new cases in the seven days to July 11, followed by the equivalent figure for the previous seven days to July 4.

Leicester 118.2 115.1

Pendle 76.6 14.2

Blackburn with Darwen 47.0 31.6

Rochdale 39.1 28.6

Herefordshire 37.0 1.6

Oadby and Wigston 35.1 31.5

Bradford 35.0 33.1

Peterborough 32.3 13.9

Kirklees 26.7 34.9

East Staffordshire 25.3 7.6

Luton 23.4 16.3

Eastbourne 23.3 8.7

Northampton 21.3 19.1

Carlisle 21.2 15.7

Kettering 20.7 15.8

Braintree 20.5 2.6

Calderdale 19.5 11.9

Oldham 17.4 22.1

Bolton 17.2 17.9

Wakefield 16.5 12.2