THIS is how Covid case numbers are looking across the North East as concern rises about the Omicron emergency.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned a “tidal wave” of Omicron was coming.
A hundred cases of the variant have now been confirmed in the North East, according to the latest figures released by Public Health England.
Read more: Omicron: Walk-in Covid booster jab centres in the North East
A total of 4,713 cases of Omicron have been confirmed in the UK.
The Omicron variant is spreading rapidly, with case numbers thought to be doubling every two to three days.
Read more: Omicron: 100 cases confirmed in North East and 30 in Yorkshire
It is too early to see what impact the rise will have in the weekly ONS data on Covid-19 deaths.
So far, the Government has confirmed one patient has died with the new variant.
Mr Javid told MPs yesterday that the UK Health Security Agency estimates that the current number of “daily infections are around 200,000”.
He added: “While Omicron represents over 20 per cent of cases in England, we’ve already seen it rise to over 44 per cent in London and we expect it to become the dominant Covid 19 variant in the capital in the next 48 hours.”
The following data shows the current picture across the North East and North Yorkshire for all confirmed Covid cases.
The latest figures are available for the seven-day period ending on December 8.
There are four Middle Super Output Area (MSOA) areas in the North East where the case rate is now more than 800 cases per 100,000, including one in Middlesbrough and one in County Durham.
In Marton West, Middlesbrough there were 48 new cases in the last seven days, which was an increase of 20 (71.4 per cent), giving it a case rate of 926.1 per 100,000 people.
In Esh Winning and Ushaw Moor, in County Durham, there were 54 new cases, an increase of 10 (22.7 per cent).
It has a case rate of 846 per 100,000 people.
The highest rate in the region was in Kingston Park and Dinnington, in Newcastle at 954.6
And nearby North Gosforth also had a rate of 834.2 per 100,000 people, with 85 new cases.
Regionally, Darlington, Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland, Richmondshire, Gateshead, Newcastle and North Tyneside all appear in purple on the map, showing they have a case rate of more than 400 cases per 100,000 people.
North Tyneside has the highest rate at 449.6, while both Stockton and Richmondshire have a rate of more than 441.
The local authority with the lowest case rate in the region is Hartlepool.
Here is the latest data available for local authorities in the region (Date from Public Health England, for seven–day period ending on 8 December 2021)
Darlington:
Total cases: 441 (down seven, -1.6 per cent)
Case rate per 100,000 people: 410.6
County Durham
Total cases: 1934 (Down 109, -5.3per cent)
Case rate per 100,000 people: 362.8
Stockton
Total cases: 871 (Up 112, 14.8 per cent)
Case rate per 100,000 people: 441.2
Middlesbrough
Total cases: 426 (Down 43, 9.2per cent)
Case rate per 100,000 people: 301.5
Redcar and Cleveland
Total cases: 554 (Up 14, 2.6 per cent)
Case rate per 100,000 people: 403.7
Hartlepool
Total cases: 254 (Down 51, 16.7per cent)
Case rate per 100,000 people: 270.7
Hambleton
Total cases: 298 (Down 82, 21.6 per cent)
Case rate per 100,000 people: 324.2
Richmondshire
Total cases: 237 (Down 30, 11.2 per cent)
Case rate per 100,000 people: 441.1
Sunderland
Total cases: 841 (Down 118, 12.3per cent)
Case rate per 100,000 people: 302.7
Gateshead
Total cases: 813 (Down 15, 1.8 per cent)
Case rate per 100,000 people: 402.6
South Tyneside
Total cases: 434 (Down 5, 1.1 per cent)
Case rate per 100,000 people: 287.2
Newcastle
Total cases: 1235 (Up 45, 3.8 per cent)
Case rate per 100,000 people: 402.5
North Tyneside
Total cases: 939 (Down 21, 2.2per cent)
Case rate per 100,000 people: 449.6
Northumberland
Total cases: 1280 (Up 118, 10.2per cent)
Case rate per 100,000 people: 395.3
Where are cases highest in the region?
- Kingston Park and Dinnington
Total cases: 132 (Up 50, 61 per cent)
Case rate per 100,000 people: 954.6
- Marton West
Total cases: 48 (Up 20, 71.4per cent)
Case rate per 100,000 people: 926.1
- Esh Winning and Ushaw Moor
Total cases: 54 (Up 10, 22.7 per cent)
Case rate per 100,000 people: 846
- North Gosforth
Total cases: 85 (Up 23, 37.1 per cent)
Case rate per 100,000 people: 834.2
'NHS services are under severe pressure'
Public health bosses have warned communities about the potential impact of the new variant.
South Tees Joint Director of Public Health Mark Adams said: "Given the spread of Omicron across the country, it's inevitable we will see huge numbers of cases here.
"That's why it's so vital people take every precaution they can while as clear a picture as possible is built up about the threat of the latest variant.
"It's common sense for us all to act now and behave with caution for the good of ourselves and our entire communities.
"NHS services are under severe pressure locally and we must do all we can to prevent another spike in Covid hospital admissions."
'Get your booster'
Yesterday, the LA7, which represents seven local authorities in the North East (County Durham, Sunderland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside, Newcastle and Northumberland) said: "The emergence of the highly transmissible Omicron variant poses a serious threat to our communities.
"The number of confirmed cases is doubling roughly every two days, and in reality, it is probably spreading at an even quicker rate than that.
"The message from the experts and scientists who have guided us through the pandemic is clear: get your booster.
"Vaccines have played an essential role in allowing us to live without restrictions for many months. They have eased the pressure on the NHS and social care, and they have saved countless lives.
"The indication is that vaccines, and specifically the ramping up of the booster programme, offer our best chance of preventing Omicron spiralling out of control."
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