The Sandwell areas where Covid rates are rising fastest

Coronavirus case rates are now higher in many parts of the UK than they were in London at the height of its Omicron wave.

In Sandwell, there were 6680 new Covid cases recorded for the week ending January 6, compared with 5112 in the week ending December 30 - an increase of 30.7%.

The North East has seen case numbers rocket by 73% in a week, with the region now the worst affected in the UK.

Official figures show it had a rate of 2,609.6 cases per 100,000 residents in the week to January 6, far higher than the peak of 2,043 per 100,000 seen in London in December.

The latest weekly case rates in Northern Ireland, the North West of England and Yorkshire and the Humber are also higher than those in London at its peak.

Across the UK, there were 1.2 million positive test results in the week to January 6, a 9% rise from the week before.

Case numbers have fallen by 13% in a week in Wales, 9% in London and 4% in the East of England, indicating that the Omicron wave has peaked in these areas.

At neighbourhood level, Covid-19 case rates have been published for the week to January 6.

Here are the neighbourhoods in Sandwell with the biggest rise in case rates in the past week.

1. Tipton

Tipton has seen case rates of positive Covid cases rise by 72.4% from 1284.8 cases per 100,000 people to 2215.5.

2. Smethwick South

Smethwick South has seen case rates of positive Covid cases rise by 64.7% from 1037.1 cases per 100,000 people to 1708.2

3. Greets Green West

Greets Green West has seen case rates of positive Covid cases rise by 60.0% from 1151.6 cases per 100,000 people to 1842.5

4. Smethwick East

Smethwick East has seen case rates of positive Covid cases rise by 59.0% from 1104.2 cases per 100,000 people to 1755.7.

5. Princes End & Willingsworth

Princes End & Willingsworth has seen case rates of positive Covid cases rise by 57.7% from 1586.5 cases per 100,000 people to 2502.5.

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