Coronavirus infection rates and now falling in every South Yorkshire area, including Sheffield.

The figures, for the seven days to January 12, are based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government’s testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).

The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.

Data for the most recent four days has been excluded as it is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.

NHS nurses wait for the next patient at a drive through Coronavirus testing site (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

placeholder image — NHS nurses wait for the next patient at a drive through Coronavirus testing site (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Of the 315 local areas in England, 37 (12%) have seen a rise in case rates, 277 (88%) have seen a fall and one is unchanged.

Knowsley in Merseyside has the highest rate in England, with 1,989 new cases recorded in the seven days to January 11 – the equivalent of 1,318.4 cases per 100,000 people.

This is up from 1,118.9 in the seven days to January 4.

Barking and Dagenham in London has dropped to second place, down from 1,718.6 to 1,273.8, with 2,712 new cases.

Newham in London is in third place, down from 1,494.9 to 1,202.1, with 4,245 new cases.

– The 10 areas with the biggest week-on-week rise in rates

1. Knowsley (up from 1,118.9 to 1,318.4)

2. Sefton (870.8 to 1,028.9)

3. St Helens (684.4 to 820.7)

4. Liverpool (861.4 to 965.2)

5. South Ribble (420.6 to 522.6)

6. Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole (751.5 to 851.4)

7. Preston (400.3 to 477.9)

8. Torbay (186.4 to 261.3)