Sheffield now has the lowest coronavirus infection rate in South Yorkshire as cases drop

This week’s update of the rolling seven-day rate of new cases of Covid-19 for every local authority in England showed that in Sheffield the current rate is 232.5 cases per 100,000 people.

That’s 1,360 infections, down from the previous period when the figure was 305.4, a total of 1,786 cases.

Elsewhere in South Yorkshire, Doncaster recorded an infection rate of 276.7 or 863 cases down from 345.0, which is 1,076 infections.

Rotherham is showing a rate of 279.2 and 741 cases, down from 308.6 and 819 cases.

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And the Barnsley infection rate currently stands at 237.8 and 587 cases, down from a rate of 245.1 and 605 infections.

The figures, for the seven days to January 16, are based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government’s testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).

Data for the most recent four days (January 17-20) has been excluded as it is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.

Of the 315 local areas in England, 17 or 5 per cent have seen a rise in case rates, 296 or 94 per cent have seen a fall and two are unchanged.

Knowsley in Merseyside continues to have the highest rate in England, with 1,666 new cases recorded in the seven days to January 16 - the equivalent of 1,104.3 cases per 100,000 people.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.