England's Covid-19 hotspots revealed with case rates for each local authority

A woman wearing a protective face mask exits a subway in Westminster, London (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Credit: PA Wire/PA Images

Burnley has the highest rate of coronavirus in England, with 279 new cases recorded in the past seven days to September 26, latest government figures show.

This is the equivalent of 313.8 cases per 100,000 people - a sharp rise from 164.2 in the seven days to September 19.

Knowsley has the second highest rate, up from 177.6 to 283.0 with 427 new cases.

Liverpool is in third place, where the rate has jumped from 181.9 to 265.6 with 1,323 new cases.

Shoppers on the High Street in Slough Credit: Steve Parsons/PA

Tuesday's update provides a rolling seven-day rate of new Covid-19 cases for every local authority in England.

The figures, for the seven days to September 26, are based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the government’s testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).

The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.

(PA graphic) Credit: PA graphic

Data for the most recent three days (September 27-29) has been excluded as it is incomplete and likely to be revised.

Other areas recording sharp increases in their seven-day rates include:

  • Newcastle upon Tyne (up from 129.8 to 258.2, with 782 new cases)

  • Manchester (up from 156.8 to 217.1, with 1,200 new cases)

  • St Helens (up from 119.1 to 202.1, with 365 new cases)

  • Sunderland (up from 125.0 to 186.5, with 518 new cases)

The list has been calculated by the PA news agency and is based on Public Health England data published on September 29 on the government’s coronavirus dashboard.