THE coronavirus 'hotspots' have been mapped using official government data - and it shows the areas that have seen the highest number of new cases.

Latest Public Health England data shows the number of new Covid-19 cases between August 17 and August 23 in an interactive map.

The map splits the country up by Middle Super Output Area (MSOA), which are small areas with an average population of 7,200.

The data is updated every weekday, and the map shows the latest seven days for which complete data is available.

It shows four County Durham, and four Teesside postcode areas have seen a higher than average rise in the number of cases.

Areas where there are two or less cases are not flagged up as potential 'coronavirus hotspots' and are not reflected on the map.

The Northern Echo:

Here are the areas that have seen more than two new cases reported between August 17 and August 23.

The number of cases recorded over that seven-day period is listed below.

County Durham

Benfieldside, Hamsterley & Medomsley - 3 

Stanley North & East - 8

Stanley South - 9

Durham City - 3

Hartlepool

Wooler Road - 3

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough Central - 4

Linthorpe West - 3

Berwick Hills - 4

Richmondshire

Catterick Garrison & Colburn - 5

Latest Public Health England data, published on August 26, shows a total of 16,005 people have tested positive for the virus in the North-East (excluding North Yorkshire) since the outbreak began.