The South Yorkshire area where Covid-19 is rising FASTER than almost anywhere else in UK

According to latest NHS figures, the number of people with Covid-19 who died in the town rose by six, from 153 to 159, between October 16 and today (October 19).

This comes as the latest week-on-week case rates have been released, which show that Barnsley’s seven-day infection rate now stands at 348.8 new cases per 100,000 people.

This is up from 225.2 new cases per 100,000 of the population for the seven days before that period.

Barnsley is currently under Tier 2 restrictions – the same as the rest of South Yorkshire – with the risk level in the area deemed ‘high’.

A report released today shows the places in England recording the biggest growth in case rates are no longer big cities but a mixture of towns and suburbs.

Other areas with the largest week-on-week increase in the latest seven-day rates include Gedling, north-east of Nottingham (up from 216.3 to 385.9); Blackburn with Darwen (up from 357.4 to 482.3); and Blackpool (up from 220.9 to 326.3).

Overall the numbers suggest the geographical hotspots for Covid-19 in England may have tilted away from big cities and towards built-up areas that do not necessarily have densely-housed student populations – and that the virus is now being spread increasingly through community infections rather than circulating largely within student accommodation.