Sheffield’s coronavirus infection rate has dropped below 200, with new cases also falling elsewhere in South Yorkshire as it prepares to enter Tier 3 lockdown.

Another 1,037 people tested positive for Covid-19 in the seven days to November 26 – the latest date for which reliable figures are available – giving a weekly infection rate of 177.3 new cases per 100,000 people.

That’s down from 262.5 the previous week and more than 400 when cases were at their peak last month, with Sheffield now having the 106th highest rate out of 315 local authorities in England.

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The coronavirus infection rate in Sheffield is less than half of what it was at its peak in October (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

placeholder image — The coronavirus infection rate in Sheffield is less than half of what it was at its peak in October (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

In Doncaster, the weekly rate fell from 272.5 to 200.4, which was the 76th highest figure in England.

In Barnsley, the rate dropped from 303.8 to 203.8, putting it 70th in the national table.

And in Rotherham, it reduced from 279.6 to 203.5, placing it 72nd.

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South Yorkshire is due to be placed under Tier 3 restrictions from Wednesday, December 2, when the national lockdown ends, with pubs, restaurants and cafes forced to close except for takeaways and deliveries, but non-essential shops allowed to reopen, along with gyms and hairdressers.

Swale in Kent has the highest infection rate in England, with 554.4 new cases per 100,000 people, according to the latest data published by Public Health England on Monday, November 30.

Infection rates fell in 294 out of 315 local authority areas across England.

Data for the most recent four days (November 27-30) has been excluded as it is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.