Four of the ten postcodes in the North East with the highest rates of Covid-19 are in County Durham.
The most recent figures available show the case rate per 100,000 people is above 400 in 11 postcodes in the region.
The latest data available is for the seven days until July 1.
Burnopfield, in County Durham has the highest rate in the North East.
There are 45 cases – a rise of 125 per cent on the previous seven days.
Haughton le Skerne has the highest rate in the borough of Darlington- and is fourth in the North East.
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At the end of June, one in 25 people in England, one in 20 in Wales and one in 17 in Scotland were infected with the virus.
The rise is being driven by the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that 2.7 million people in private households are estimated to have had Covid-19 in the last week of June, up 18% from 2.3 million the previous week.
This is the highest estimate for total infections since late April, but is still below the record high of 4.9 million which was reached during the Omicron BA.2 wave at the end of March.
The 10 postcodes with this highest Covid case rate in the seven days to July 1:
1. Burnopfield, County Durham
Covid infection rate: 555.8 per 100,000 people
Number of cases: 45
Cases are: up by 125%
2. Stanley South, County Durham
Covid infection rate: 542.7 per 100,000 people
Number of cases: 52
Cases are: up by 79.3%
3. Blayden North and Winlaton Mill, Gateshead
Covid infection rate: 495.6 per 100,000 people
Number of cases: 33
Cases are: down by 15.4%
4. Haughton le Skerne, Darlington
Covid infection rate: 466.2 per 100,000 people
Number of cases: 25
Cases are: up by 212.5%
5. Rowlands Gill and Lockhaugh, Gateshead
Covid infection rate: 458.2 per 100,000 people
Number of cases: 25
Cases are up by: 92.3%
6. Guisborough Outer and Upleatham, Redcar and Cleveland
Covid infection rate: 443.3 per 100,000 people
Number of cases: 25
Cases are up by: 92.3%
7. High Shincliffe and Bowburn, County Durham
Covid infection rate: 434.7 per 100,000 people
Number of cases: 29
Cases are up by: 93.3%
8. Coxlodge and West Gosforth, Newcastle
Covid infection rate: 414 per 100,000 people
Number of cases: 43
Cases are up by: 59.3%
9. Saltburn, Redcar and Cleveland
Covid infection rate: 412.5 per 100,000 people
Number of cases: 25
Cases are up by: 47.1%
10. Great Lumley and Bournmoor, County Durham
Covid infection rate: 412.1 per 100,000 people
Number of cases: 30
Cases are up by: 42.9%
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