Covid cases have dropped in nearly 95% of the UK - here’s how regions compare

Covid-19 case rates have dropped across nearly 95 per cent of local authorities in the UK, new figures show.

Of the 380 local authority areas, only 23 (six per cent) have seen a week-on-week increase in rates, compared with 354 (93 per cent) where rates have fallen.

The falling rates could be attributed to the success of the vaccine rollout, as well as current lockdown measures, with vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi stating that preliminary evidence on coronavirus transmission is “really encouraging”.

Boris Johnson said he is “hopeful” that lockdown can be cautiously eased in the coming weeks, adding that vaccines are providing “grounds for confidence”.

How do regions compare?

The highest Covid-19 case rate in the UK was in Corby, Northamptonshire, with 277 new cases recorded in the seven days to 10 February, the equivalent of 383.6 cases per 100,000 people. This was down from 468.0 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days previous.

The figures, for the seven days to 10 February, are based on tests carried out in laboratories and in the wider community. Data for the most recent days has been excluded as it is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.