Rates remain in right direction but figures show it is too soon to declare latest wave over
Rates are continuing to fall, although the West Midlands is still seeing among the highest number of infections in the UK.
All areas of the region saw a significant falling away of coronavirus rates, although they remain way above levels seen during much of last year.
And with hospital patient levels still above the peak of the first wave, we have a long way to go before we can say with any certainty that the latest wave is over.
Nationally, coronavirus infections are coming in at a rate of between 10-15,000 a day. That is half that of around three weeks ago, but way above the figure of 1,000 a day that many experts say we should drop to before before lockdown can be relaxed.
The latest list of infection rates has been calculated based on Public Health England data published on February 15 on the Government’s coronavirus dashboard.
Both Sandwell and Walsall are among the five areas in England with the worst coronavirus rates. And all areas of the West Midlands are seeing figures above the national average of 130 per 100,000.
The only rise experienced in our wider region is Powys, although it is also showing the lowest figure at around 120 per 100,000.
Nationally, coronavirus case rates have fallen across nearly 95 per cent of local authorities in the UK.
Of the 380 local authorities areas across the UK, only 23 have seen a week-on-week increase in case rates compared with 354 where the rates have fallen.
The highest case rate in the UK was in Corby, Northamptonshire, with 277 new cases recorded in the seven days to February 10 – 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 to February 3.
The figures, for the seven days to February 10, are based on tests carried out in laboratories and in the wider community.
Of the 315 local areas in England, 12 have seen a rise in case rates, 301 have seen a fall, and two are unchanged.
The highest week-on-week increase in England was in Copeland, Cumbria, where the rate has risen from 177.5 to 237.6, with 162 new cases.
Of the 32 local areas in Scotland, eight have seen a week-on-week rise in case rates, while 24 have seen a fall.
And of the 22 local areas in Wales, three have seen a rise in case rates – Powys, Cardiff and Conway. A total of 18 fell and one has remained the same.
Wrexham had the highest rate in Wales, down from 229.5 to 161.1, with 219 new cases.
