Covid-19 community infection rates revealed

The latest community Covid-19 rates for our region have been published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

In the North East almost one in every six people (16.2 per cent) has had the disease while in Yorkshire and the Humber, which includes North Yorkshire and York, the rate is closer to one in every five people (18.7 per cent).

This does not include people in hospitals and care homes.

These have been calculated by estimating how many people would have tested positive for antibodies to the virus which causes Covid-19 - known as SARS-CoV-2 - in a blood test in the 28 days up to January 18. They have analysed blood tests from a sample selection of households who are over the age of 16-years-old.

Both areas in our region have a rate which is higher than England as a whole, where the rate is 15.3 per cent. London has the highest rate at 21 per cent.

The ONS report says:

It adds:

The full report can be read here.