Newcastle upon Tyne is now England's Covid hotspot, while the North East has overtaken the North West as the nation's worst-hit region, official statistics show.
A total of 2,012 positive tests were recorded in Newcastle in the seven days to June 30 – the equivalent of 664 cases per 100,000 people, three times higher than the national average.
This is up from 382 per 100,000 people one week earlier and is the city's highest rate for almost eight months, topping figures seen during the peak of the second wave in January.
Newcastle City Council told MailOnline the hike in cases is in line with the rise across most parts of England and there is no specific event or outbreak linked to the increase. But councillors in neighbouring areas have blamed partying students.
The sharp rise — also seen in neighbouring Gateshead, County Durham, North and South Tyneside — has caused the North East to overtake the North West as England's Covid hotspot.
The region recorded 483 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days up to June 30, while the North West posted 386 for the same period.
Newcastle upon Tyne now has the highest rate of Covid infections in England, with 664 cases per 100,000 people being recorded. Four areas in Newcastle upon Tyne are recording cases a a rate above 800 per 100,000 people (darkest areas of map). These include North Jesmond (1,656), South Jesmond and Sandyford (1,169), Heaton South (894) and Hebburn West (889)
Government data shows that 365 people in Newcastle upon Tyne tested positive for Covid on June 30, up from 231 seven days earlier, an increase of 58 per cent. It has been nearly nine months since that many cases have been recorded in the area
Despite the big spike in cases, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has recorded relativity flat hospitalisations. Between zero and five patients were admitted to the hospital every day in June
Deaths have also stayed flat as cases have increased. Throughout June, three people died from the virus. Though deaths are expected to rise, due to the delay between catching the virus, being admitted to hospital and dying
The vaccine uptake in Newcastle upon Tyne is slower than the UK average, with 68.4 per cent of people having their first dose and 46 per cent having their second. Across the UK, 86 per cent of people have received their first jab and 63.8 per cent have had both
Covid infections are continuing to rise across the UK, sparking concern about the unlocking later this month. The number of daily cases has jumped by 50 per cent amid the rapid spread of the highly-infectious Indian variant.
But hospital admissions and deaths are not rising as quickly as they did in previous waves, in a clear sign that the current crop of vaccines are working.
Facing pressure to drop all Covid restrictions with the proof that jabs are working, Boris Johnson tonight pushed the button on a 'big bang' Freedom Day, warning that it is now or never to unlock.
However, the Prime Minister insisted
