ENGLAND is now back in lockdown following a surge in coronavirus cases across the country.

It is a pattern which has been seen in Cheshire East and West, with both boroughs seeing their case numbers soar in the past few weeks.

Latest figures from the PA news agency appear to show why the Government took the decision to go into lockdown this week, with MPs set to vote on the measures becoming law today.

Cheshire West’s infection rate has almost doubled in the space of a week, from 254.8 to 507.8 per 100,000 people.

That follows 1,742 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the seven days up to January 1.

Cheshire East has also seen a sizeable increase in its infection rate, from 227.8 to 429.8 per 100,000 people following 1,651 cases in the same week.

Cheshire West is 148th and Cheshire East is 184th out of all 315 English boroughs in the list for Covid infection rates – so despite seeing soaring numbers of late, the picture is much worse in other areas.

London and the south east – where the new variant of Covid has been spreading for a number of weeks – now have the highest infection rates across the country.

There are now 34 areas where the infection rate tops 1,000 per 100,000 people – with the worst-affected area Barking and Dagenham seeing a rate of 1,510.5 per 100,000 people.

Elsewhere in Cheshire, Warrington’s infection rate is now 569.5 per 100,000 people and Halton’s is 694.7 per 100,000 people.

Below is the list in full, compiled by the PA news agency, based on figures provided from Public Health England.

From left to right, it includes the infection rate per 100,000 people in the week up to January 1 and the case number in brackets, followed by the data for the week up to December 25.

  1. Barking and Dagenham, 1510.5, (3216), 976.5, (2079)
  2. Thurrock, 1471.8, (2566), 1217.2, (2122)
  3. Castle Point, 1419.6, (1283), 1083.3, (979)
  4. Redbridge, 1416.0, (4322), 1072.3, (3273)
  5. Epping Forest, 1381.3, (1819), 1297.8, (1709)
  6. Broxbourne, 1355.9, (1319), 1071.1, (1042)
  7. Brentwood, 1352.9, (1042), 1342.5, (1034)
  8. Harlow, 1341.5, (1168), 949.8, (827)
  9. Newham, 1290.7, (4558), 913.8, (3227)
  10. Havering, 1247.9, (3239), 1111.9, (2886)
  11. Rushmoor, 1229.4, (1163), 657.5, (622)
  12. Dartford, 1215.7, (1369), 895.2, (1008)
  13. Gravesham, 1198.8, (1282), 883.7, (945)
  14. Enfield, 1197.1, (3996), 970.4, (3239)
  15. Bexley, 1197.0, (2972), 1025.8, (2547)
  16. Basildon, 1192.8, (2233), 985.0, (1844)
  17. Tower Hamlets, 1166.5, (3788), 935.2, (3037)
  18. Southend-on-Sea, 1136.4, (2081), 974.2, (1784)
  19. Braintree, 1124.5, (1716), 780.5, (1191)
  20. Medway, 1106.1, (3081), 862.3, (2402)
  21. Waltham Forest, 1105.1, (3061), 874.1, (2421)
  22. Sutton, 1090.9, (2251), 748.7, (1545)
  23. Bromley, 1089.0, (3619), 843.1, (2802)
  24. Hounslow, 1086.1, (2949), 713.4, (1937)
  25. Rochford, 1072.5, (937), 948.9, (829)
  26. Chelmsford, 1058.4, (1888), 811.7, (1448)
  27. Greenwich, 1026.6, (2956), 711.9, (2050)
  28. Merton, 1024.5, (2116), 777.5, (1606)
  29. Hertsmere, 1021.7, (1072), 896.9, (941)
  30. Haringey, 1012.1, (2719), 805.5, (2164)
  31. Slough, 1011.8, (1513), 654.0, (978)
  32. South Bucks, 1008.0, (706), 673.9, (472)
  33. Croydon, 1006.7, (3893), 787.4, (3045)
  34. Barnet, 1001.8, (3966), 746.7, (2956)
  35. Watford, 995.1, (961), 793.1, (766)
  36. Maldon, 985.7, (640), 670.0, (435)
  37. Brent, 977.3, (3223), 646.5, (2132)
  38. Hillingdon, 954.1, (2928), 755.4, (2318)
  39. Three Rivers, 951.5, (888), 794.0, (741)
  40. Harrow, 942.4, (2367), 731.0, (1836)
  41. Lewisham, 935.1, (2860), 706.6, (2161)
  42. Carlisle, 932.1, (1013), 349.7, (380)
  43. Milton Keynes, 923.3, (2488), 782.7, (2109)
  44. Crawley, 914.5, (1028), 470.6, (529)
  45. Ealing, 906.9, (3100), 628.4, (2148)
  46. Spelthorne, 890.4, (889), 640.0, (639)
  47. Southwark, 880.4, (2807), 688.5, (2195)
  48. Hackney and City of London, 878.8, (2556), 760.9, (2213)
  49. Hastings, 860.1, (797), 941.1, (872)
  50. Uttlesford, 852.3, (778), 539.0, (492)
  51. Lambeth, 840.4, (2740), 701.5, (2287)
  52. Bracknell Forest, 839.7, (1029), 536.1, (657)
  53. Epsom and Ewell, 835.9, (674), 626.3, (505)
  54. Tendring, 835.8, (1225), 345.2, (506)
  55. Kingston upon Thames, 833.2, (1479), 596.6, (1059)
  56. Maidstone, 831.7, (1429), 679.8, (1168)
  57. Reigate and Banstead, 824.9, (1227), 521.7, (776)
  58. Tandridge, 822.7, (725), 625.2, (551)
  59. Ashford, 822.1, (1069), 742.9, (966)
  60. Bedford, 815.4, (1413), 612.3, (1061)
  61. Colchester, 815.1, (1587), 363.1, (707)
  62. Surrey Heath, 808.5, (722), 491.6, (439)
  63. Stevenage, 808.2, (710), 512.3, (450)
  64. Welwyn Hatfield, 786.7, (968), 489.3, (602)
  65. Isle of Wight, 785.8, (1114), 215.8, (306)
  66. Swale, 784.9, (1178), 665.6, (999)
  67. Sevenoaks, 781.0, (943), 667.5, (806)
  68. Folkestone and Hythe, 777.0, (878), 620.4, (701)
  69. Burnley, 773.7, (688), 478.0, (425)
  70. Wolverhampton, 772.3, (2034), 419.6, (1105)
  71. Eastbourne, 772.1, (801), 473.3, (491)
  72. Elmbridge, 769.8, (1053), 592.9, (811)
  73. Tonbridge and Malling, 762.8, (1008), 616.7, (815)
  74. Wandsworth, 760.4, (2507), 688.9, (2271)
  75. Cherwell, 756.1, (1138), 431.9, (650)
  76. Islington, 751.4, (1822), 604.6, (1466)
  77. Hartlepool, 749.5, (702), 388.6, (364)
  78. St Albans, 745.7, (1107), 541.6, (804)
  79. Woking, 740.1, (746), 518.9, (523)
  80. Hart, 724.2, (703), 309.0, (300)
  81. East Hertfordshire, 723.2, (1083), 542.2, (812)
  82. Hammersmith and Fulham, 721.1, (1335), 593.1, (1098)
  83. Arun, 715.4, (1150), 305.4, (491)
  84. Windsor and Maidenhead, 715.2, (1083), 493.3, (747)
  85. Luton, 708.7, (1510), 498.0, (1061)
  86. Halton, 694.7, (899), 200.1, (259)
  87. Northampton, 693.6, (1558), 370.9, (833)
  88. Dacorum, 691.4, (1070), 511.1, (791)
  89. Eden, 681.7, (363), 460.1, (245)
  90. Sandwell, 678.9, (2230), 343.4, (1128)
  91. Waverley, 676.8, (855), 331.7, (419)
  92. Rother, 674.4, (648), 625.5, (601)
  93. Havant, 666.3, (841), 456.3, (576)
  94. Thanet, 661.6, (939), 489.0, (694)
  95. Wycombe, 660.2, (1153), 448.9, (784)
  96. Richmond upon Thames, 656.0, (1299), 597.9, (1184)
  97. Runnymede, 652.0, (583), 437.2, (391)
  98. Camden, 640.3, (1729), 489.6, (1322)
  99. Wealden, 637.3, (1029), 398.8, (644)
  100. Lewes, 632.3, (653), 397.0, (410)
  101. Brighton and Hove, 628.1, (1827), 314.2, (914)
  102. Central Bedfordshire, 625.0, (1804), 468.4, (1352)
  103. Kensington and Chelsea, 621.3, (970), 486.1, (759)
  104. Worthing, 619.5, (685), 261.4, (289)
  105. Walsall, 619.3, (1768), 301.6, (861)
  106. Portsmouth, 617.9, (1328), 420.2, (903)
  107. Aylesbury Vale, 617.7, (1232), 507.9, (1013)
  108. Southampton, 613.0, (1548), 319.6, (807)
  109. Wirral, 606.5, (1965), 213.9, (693)
  110. Pendle, 603.6, (556), 393.0, (362)
  111. Knowsley, 597.2, (901), 184.9, (279)
  112. Reading, 595.3, (963), 436.4, (706)
  113. Blackburn with Darwen, 593.2, (888), 328.0, (491)
  114. Mid Sussex, 592.6, (895), 354.9, (536)
  115. Corby, 588.5, (425), 203.6, (147)
  116. Ipswich, 585.8, (802), 278.3, (381)
  117. Guildford, 581.9, (867), 416.1, (620)
  118. Adur, 581.6, (374), 332.8, (214)
  119. Wokingham, 575.6, (985), 401.5, (687)
  120. Warrington, 569.5, (1196), 254.3, (534)
  121. Babergh, 566.1, (521), 334.7, (308)
  122. Birmingham, 560.5, (6400), 319.8, (3651)
  123. Dudley, 560.3, (1802), 288.6, (928)
  124. Mole Valley, 559.3, (488), 408.0, (356)
  125. South Northamptonshire, 558.8, (528), 358.8, (339)
  126. Dover, 556.2, (657), 545.2, (644)
  127. South Staffordshire, 553.2, (622), 287.3, (323)
  128. Ribble Valley, 551.8, (336), 321.9, (196)
  129. Great Yarmouth, 551.7, (548), 213.4, (212)
  130. Westminster, 549.9, (1437), 487.9, (1275)
  131. Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole, 547.9, (2166), 217.3, (859)
  132. South Oxfordshire, 538.5, (765), 300.6, (427)
  133. Canterbury, 535.1, (885), 529.6, (876)
  134. East Staffordshire, 532.8, (638), 323.2, (387)
  135. Horsham, 531.3, (764), 241.3, (347)
  136. Ashfield, 530.0, (678), 251.7, (322)
  137. Chiltern, 527.5, (506), 370.1, (355)
  138. Sefton, 524.9, (1451), 178.4, (493)
  139. Swindon, 523.4, (1163), 239.0, (531)
  140. Oadby and Wigston, 520.9, (297), 349.0, (199)
  141. Cannock Chase, 520.0, (524), 281.9, (284)
  142. Fareham, 519.6, (604), 265.8, (309)
  143. Hyndburn, 519.5, (421), 259.1, (210)
  144. Tunbridge Wells, 518.0, (615), 471.7, (560)
  145. Daventry, 510.8, (439), 264.1, (227)
  146. Cambridge, 508.0, (634), 266.0, (332)
  147. Derby, 508.0, (1307), 251.8, (648)
  148. Cheshire West and Chester, 507.8, (1742), 254.8, (874)
  149. Huntingdonshire, 500.1, (890), 206.8, (368)
  150. South Norfolk, 499.0, (703), 261.9, (369)
  151. Broadland, 497.8, (651), 283.7, (371)
  152. York, 496.6, (1046), 236.4, (498)
  153. South Tyneside, 495.4, (748), 225.2, (340)
  154. Eastleigh, 494.8, (661), 219.3, (293)
  155. Gloucester, 494.1, (638), 272.6, (352)
  156. Liverpool, 492.1, (2451), 195.6, (974)
  157. Bromsgrove, 491.6, (491), 279.3, (279)
  158. Amber Valley, 490.8, (629), 326.2, (418)
  159. North Hertfordshire, 482.1, (644), 340.6, (455)
  160. Sedgemoor, 479.8, (591), 273.6, (337)
  161. Sunderland, 478.6, (1329), 195.9, (544)
  162. Winchester, 478.1, (597), 252.3, (315)
  163. Norwich, 474.5, (667), 276.0, (388)
  164. Peterborough, 469.2, (949), 367.4, (743)
  165. Oxford, 469.0, (715), 341.1, (520)
  166. Middlesbrough, 465.3, (656), 224.9, (317)
  167. Richmondshire, 465.3, (250), 180.5, (97)
  168. Test Valley, 461.3, (582), 230.7, (291)
  169. South Cambridgeshire, 458.2, (729), 232.0, (369)
  170. Solihull, 456.6, (988), 254.2, (550)
  171. Rugby, 456.2, (497), 284.6, (310)
  172. King's Lynn and West Norfolk, 454.5, (688), 257.6, (390)
  173. Breckland, 454.4, (636), 231.5, (324)
  174. Nuneaton and Bedworth, 454.3, (590), 260.2, (338)
  175. Chichester, 450.8, (546), 221.3, (268)
  176. Leicester, 450.3, (1595), 297.0, (1052)
  177. Worcester, 449.5, (455), 181.8, (184)
  178. Allerdale, 449.1, (439), 181.1, (177)
  179. County Durham, 448.4, (2377), 250.7, (1329)
  180. Somerset West and Taunton, 446.8, (693), 242.4, (376)
  181. East Cambridgeshire, 443.0, (398), 220.4, (198)
  182. Redditch, 438.7, (374), 211.1, (180)
  183. Harborough, 438.1, (411), 227.1, (213)
  184. Cheshire East, 429.8, (1651), 227.8, (875)
  185. Wellingborough, 427.8, (341), 269.7, (215)
  186. Coventry, 419.6, (1559), 242.8, (902)
  187. Lichfield, 416.2, (436), 248.2, (260)
  188. East Hampshire, 414.5, (507), 273.1, (334)
  189. Mansfield, 414.4, (453), 246.1, (269)
  190. South Kesteven, 412.9, (588), 309.6, (441)
  191. Wyre Forest, 409.7, (415), 188.6, (191)
  192. Basingstoke and Deane, 408.3, (721), 255.4, (451)
  193. West Suffolk, 408.3, (731), 232.9, (417)
  194. Kettering, 407.8, (415), 218.1, (222)
  195. West Berkshire, 403.9, (640), 322.5, (511)
  196. Gateshead, 403.9, (816), 249.9, (505)
  197. West Oxfordshire, 403.1, (446), 227.8, (252)
  198. Fenland, 402.6, (410), 181.6, (185)
  199. Darlington, 401.7, (429), 239.7, (256)
  200. North Warwickshire, 401.4, (262), 174.7, (114)
  201. Gosport, 400.8, (340), 200.4, (170)
  202. Forest of Dean, 395.2, (343), 223.5, (194)
  203. Stockton-on-Tees, 393.2, (776), 226.5, (447)
  204. St. Helens, 390.4, (705), 187.2, (338)
  205. Gedling, 387.6, (457), 246.0, (290)
  206. Vale of White Horse, 387.5, (527), 250.7, (341)
  207. East Suffolk, 383.6, (957), 166.0, (414)
  208. West Lancashire, 383.2, (438), 205.6, (235)
  209. North Norfolk, 381.5, (400), 213.7, (224)
  210. South Gloucestershire, 381.3, (1087), 174.0, (496)
  211. Hambleton, 381.0, (349), 248.9, (228)
  212. Mid Suffolk, 380.2, (395), 173.3, (180)
  213. South Derbyshire, 378.5, (406), 248.9, (267)
  214. Stafford, 377.3, (518), 254.2, (349)
  215. Craven, 374.5, (214), 131.3, (75)
  216. Bristol, 373.1, (1729), 176.3, (817)
  217. Tamworth, 372.9, (286), 186.5, (143)
  218. Blaby, 370.3, (376), 230.5, (234)
  219. Trafford, 364.0, (864), 233.8, (555)
  220. Bolsover, 361.2, (291), 206.1, (166)
  221. North Somerset, 359.4, (773), 198.6, (427)
  222. Nottingham, 359.0, (1195), 202.5, (674)
  223. Rossendale, 358.1, (256), 207.0, (148)
  224. Wigan, 354.8, (1166), 182.3, (599)
  225. Bury, 353.9, (676), 234.6, (448)
  226. Warwick, 353.4, (508), 219.1, (315)
  227. Scarborough, 351.2, (382), 212.4, (231)
  228. Stockport, 350.3, (1028), 212.0, (622)
  229. Lincoln, 349.4, (347), 348.4, (346)
  230. Northumberland, 345.2, (1113), 193.5, (624)
  231. Wychavon, 342.3, (443), 214.8, (278)
  232. East Northamptonshire, 341.7, (323), 223.2, (211)
  233. Erewash, 338.9, (391), 169.0, (195)
  234. Selby, 338.8, (307), 150.1, (136)
  235. Lancaster, 336.9, (492), 208.8, (305)
  236. North East Derbyshire, 336.1, (341), 184.3, (187)
  237. North West Leicestershire, 335.9, (348), 200.8, (208)
  238. Wyre, 335.4, (376), 166.8, (187)
  239. Stoke-on-Trent, 335.1, (859), 248.1, (636)
  240. Barrow-in-Furness, 332.6, (223), 95.5, (64)
  241. Broxtowe, 331.5, (378), 176.3, (201)
  242. Telford and Wrekin, 328.6, (591), 141.2, (254)
  243. Doncaster, 327.0, (1020), 202.6, (632)
  244. Manchester, 325.2, (1798), 184.9, (1022)
  245. Rushcliffe, 324.7, (387), 204.7, (244)
  246. South Ribble, 324.0, (359), 165.2, (183)
  247. Stratford-on-Avon, 322.1, (419), 180.6, (235)
  248. New Forest, 321.5, (579), 149.4, (269)
  249. Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, 319.5, (1827), 96.9, (554)
  250. Preston, 316.5, (453), 213.8, (306)
  251. Ryedale, 314.2, (174), 153.5, (85)
  252. Redcar and Cleveland, 312.8, (429), 116.7, (160)
  253. Rochdale, 312.5, (695), 206.8, (460)
  254. Hull, 309.5, (804), 227.9, (592)
  255. Bath and North East Somerset, 308.4, (596), 149.5, (289)
  256. Herefordshire, 308.1, (594), 182.1, (351)
  257. Chorley, 304.5, (360), 218.2, (258)
  258. North Kesteven, 301.1, (352), 255.7, (299)
  259. Bassetlaw, 299.7, (352), 221.4, (260)
  260. Melton, 298.8, (153), 228.5, (117)
  261. Harrogate, 298.4, (480), 115.6, (186)
  262. Salford, 298.3, (772), 197.8, (512)
  263. Newcastle-under-Lyme, 297.4, (385), 213.2, (276)
  264. Newark and Sherwood, 297.3, (364), 200.9, (246)
  265. Oldham, 291.8, (692), 180.5, (428)
  266. Charnwood, 290.6, (540), 207.2, (385)
  267. Hinckley and Bosworth, 289.9, (328), 213.0, (241)
  268. Leeds, 288.9, (2291), 182.8, (1450)
  269. Shropshire, 288.7, (933), 98.7, (319)
  270. Tameside, 287.0, (650), 168.2, (381)
  271. Barnsley, 286.0, (706), 189.6, (468)
  272. Rotherham, 284.1, (754), 197.4, (524)
  273. Wiltshire, 283.2, (1416), 150.4, (752)
  274. Tewkesbury, 283.1, (269), 175.8, (167)
  275. Dorset, 281.9, (1067), 120.7, (457)
  276. Cotswold, 281.5, (253), 198.1, (178)
  277. Copeland, 275.7, (188), 80.7, (55)
  278. South Holland, 273.6, (260), 204.2, (194)
  279. South Lakeland, 273.1, (287), 163.7, (172)
  280. Calderdale, 270.5, (572), 167.4, (354)
  281. Wakefield, 267.0, (930), 167.7, (584)
  282. South Somerset, 263.2, (443), 165.1, (278)
  283. Mendip, 262.1, (303), 178.2, (206)
  284. Blackpool, 261.8, (365), 162.1, (226)
  285. Chesterfield, 260.2, (273), 157.3, (165)
  286. Bolton, 260.1, (748), 157.2, (452)
  287. Stroud, 258.4, (310), 190.9, (229)
  288. Fylde, 256.3, (207), 153.5, (124)
  289. Staffordshire Moorlands, 253.0, (249), 224.5, (221)
  290. Cheltenham, 248.5, (289), 145.3, (169)
  291. High Peak, 248.2, (230), 136.0, (126)
  292. North Tyneside, 247.7, (515), 158.7, (330)
  293. West Lindsey, 246.7, (236), 269.7, (258)
  294. Kirklees, 243.8, (1072), 162.6, (715)
  295. Rutland, 242.9, (97), 185.3, (74)
  296. Sheffield, 239.7, (1402), 165.3, (967)
  297. Boston, 238.0, (167), 295.0, (207)
  298. Malvern Hills, 233.8, (184), 118.2, (93)
  299. Bradford, 232.3, (1254), 169.9, (917)
  300. North Lincolnshire, 228.1, (393), 156.1, (269)
  301. Exeter, 226.8, (298), 140.8, (185)
  302. Derbyshire Dales, 225.4, (163), 150.7, (109)
  303. Mid Devon, 222.3, (183), 126.4, (104)
  304. East Riding of Yorkshire, 220.1, (751), 162.4, (554)
  305. Newcastle upon Tyne, 215.0, (651), 132.1, (400)
  306. Plymouth, 206.0, (540), 174.7, (458)
  307. East Lindsey, 175.0, (248), 112.2, (159)
  308. South Hams, 172.4, (150), 90.8, (79)
  309. East Devon, 168.2, (246), 138.1, (202)
  310. North East Lincolnshire, 168.0, (268), 102.8, (164)
  311. Teignbridge, 155.8, (209), 128.2, (172)
  312. North Devon, 131.8, (128), 141.0, (137)
  313. West Devon, 130.8, (73), 206.1, (115)
  314. Torbay, 121.8, (166), 56.5, (77)
  315. Torridge, 112.8, (77), 86.4, (59)