11 out of 14 North East areas see THOUSANDS of Covid cases

Latest figures show 11 out of 14 areas across the North East and North Yorkshire saw a rise in the number of new cases in the past week.

The figures, which were published last night, show the situation in the region on the day schools started their return to classes.

It means the Covid figures reported by Public Health England could potentially rise as more data from the first week of schools reopening comes available.

Read more: North East sees THOUSANDS of Covid cases in week before schools return

It comes as Downing Street was today forced to deny claims that the Government were planning a lockdown in October if Covid cases surge even further.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “No, it is not true that the Government is planning a lockdown or firebreak around the October half-term.

“I think (vaccines minister) Nadhim Zahawi was asked a similar question this morning and made that clear as well.

“We have retained contingency plans as part of responsible planning for a range of scenarios, but these kind of measures would only be reintroduced as a last resort to prevent unsustainable pressure on our NHS.

“I think we’ve been clear throughout that we will take action, and indeed we have done when necessary to protect our NHS.

“But under the previous occasions when that action has been required, we have been without the significant defences that our vaccination programme provides us – we’re now in a much different phase.”

The dismissal of a firebreak lockdown followed on from concerns in the North East earlier this week as thousands headed back to class after the summer break.

Trade union bosses slammed the Government after updated guidance from the Department of Education revealed almost all restrictions – including use of face coverings, social distance and bubbles – in schools had been stripped ahead of their return.

Read more: North East sees THOUSANDS of Covid cases in week before schools return

Meanwhile the Labour MP for Durham, Mary Foy urged the Government to retain some safety measures, including the introduction of extra ventilation systems to help facilitate official guidance stating schools should be well-ventilated.

However, Amanda Healy, Director of Public Health for Durham has offered assurances that measures are in place to help minimise risk of transmission.

She said: "We can reassure parents that measures are in place to assist with the safe return of pupils.  "This includes all secondary school pupils being offered two lateral flow tests in school at the start of term.  “We would encourage parents to take up this offer for their children and for them to continue to test twice weekly at home."

But today, latest figures for the region showed thousands of new cases were again recorded in the past week 

In the North East, Covid cases in the week leading to September 1, showed infections in County Durham, Sunderland and Newcastle were at the region's highest with 1,818, 987 and 827 cases reported in that week alone respectively. 

These are the Covid case rates in the North East and North Yorkshire

These are the figures for the region in the week leading to September 1- in order of infection rate

MIDDLESBROUGH 

​Number cases this week: 547 (up 23)

Covid infection rate: 387.2 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 4.4 per cent

SOUTH TYNESIDE 

​Number cases this week: 580 (up 56)

Covid infection rate: 383.8 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 10.7 per cent

DARLINGTON 

​Number cases this week: 383 (up by 11)

Covid infection rate: 356.6 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 3.0 per cent

GATESHEAD 

​Number cases this week: 720 (up 64)

Covid infection rate: 356.5 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 9.8 per cent

STOCKTON

​Number cases this week: 703 (up by 25)

Covid infection rate: 356.1 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 3.7 per cent

SUNDERLAND 

​Number cases this week: 987 (up 140)

Covid infection rate: 355.2 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 16.5 per cent

REDCAR AND CLEVELAND 

​Number cases this week: 485 (up by 3)

Covid infection rate: 353.4 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 0.6 per cent

NORTH TYNESIDE 

​Number cases this week: 730 (up 45)

Covid infection rate: 349.5 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 6.6 per cent

COUNTY DURHAM

​Number cases this week: 1,818 (up by 202)

Covid infection rate: 341.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 12.5 per cent

HARTLEPOOL 

​Number cases this week: 319 (up by 1)

Covid infection rate: 340.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 0.3 per cent

HAMBLETON 

​Number cases this week: 279 (up by 43)

Covid infection rate: 303.5 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 18.2 per cent

Where cases are down 

These are the figures for the region in the week leading to September 1- in order of infection rate

RICHMONDSHIRE 

​Number cases this week: 122 (down by 29)

Covid infection rate: 227.1 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 19.2 per cent

NEWCASTLE 

​Number cases this week: 827 (down 26)

Covid infection rate: 269.5 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 3.0 per cent

NORTHUMBERLAND 

​Number cases this week: 947 (down by 103)

Covid infection rate: 292.4 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 9.8 per cent

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