The weekly coronavirus infection rate in Sheffield has fallen as tough new restrictions to curb the spread of the virus in the city were announced.

There were 2,414 confirmed cases of Covid-19 during the seven days to October 9, the most recent date for which reliable figures are available – a rate of 412.8 new cases per 100,000 people.

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That is slightly down from the previous day’s weekly rate of 439.3 but remains significantly up on that for the previous seven days, which was 318.7.

Nurses instruct and help National Health Service (NHS) workers as they self swab for Coronavirus (Covid-19) at a drive through testing site at the Owler Events Centre (OEC) Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

placeholder image — Nurses instruct and help National Health Service (NHS) workers as they self swab for Coronavirus (Covid-19) at a drive through testing site at the Owler Events Centre (OEC) Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Sheffield’s weekly infection rate is now the eighth highest in England, based on the latest data from Public Health England on Monday afternoon, down from seventh the previous day.

Nottingham has the nation’s highest infection rate, with 834.2 cases per 100,000 people, up from 425.7 the previous week.

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Sheffield has been classed as a ‘high’ alert area, the second highest level in the Government’s new three-tier lockdown system, which means that from Wednesday different households are banned from meeting indoors.