THE Covid infection rate in parts of England is 'levelling off' but not in parts of the North-East, most recent data reveals.

The Office for National Statistics has said Covid cases are levelling off in England and Scotland, while they are decreasing in Wales and Northern Ireland.

But official Public Health England data shows much of our region is still seeing an upward trend in the number of new Covid cases.

READ MORE: Covid infection rates rise across the North-East and North Yorkshire

Today, the ONS said data from November 8 to 14, suggests the overall national infection rate in England is similar to the week before.

>>>See the current North-East infection rate below<<<

But it said there were rising rates in primary school aged children, and the highest infection rates are in secondary school aged children, older teenagers and young adults.

It said the data did show infection rates to be levelling off in people aged 25 and over across the country.

Katherine Kent, co-head of analysis for the Covid-19 Infection Survey, said: “There are early signs that the national level of infections in England might be levelling off but this hides a lot of variation at a regional level."

Ms Kent said that Covid rates are now decreasing in the North-West and the East Midlands while mainly increasing in London, the East of England and the South-East.

She said: “New increases appear to be driven by infections in younger people, with increasing levels in primary school age children.

“Elsewhere in the UK, we are seeing a similar picture with increasing infections throughout October which are now decreasing in Wales and Northern Ireland and levelling off in Scotland.”

But in the North-East, most recent data showed the majority of areas had still seen a rise in new Covid cases in the seven days to November 14, based on the week before.

But some areas including Darlington and County Durham, although still seeing an upward trend in general, saw a decline in the actual number of new Covid cases being reported.

How the Covid-19 infection rate compares across each area in the region - as of figures published on November 20:

The infection figures are from the seven days to November 14, compared with the rate in the seven days to November 7.

1. Richmondshire, North Yorkshire

Number of cases this week: 144 cases (up 44 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate:268.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 44.0 per cent

2. Hartlepool

Number of cases this week: 553 cases (up 161 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 590.4 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP 41.1 per cent

3. North Tyneside

Number of cases this week: 890 cases (up 183 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 428.1 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP 25.9 per cent

4. South Tyneside

Number of cases this week: 628 cases (up 95 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 416.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP 17.8 per cent

5. Northumberland

Number of cases this week: 941 cases (up 141 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 291.8 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP 17.6 per cent

6. Newcastle

Number of cases this week: 1,359 cases (up 197 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 448.8 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP 17 per cent

7. Redcar and Cleveland

Number of cases this week: 669 cases (up 92 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 487.8 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP 15.9 per cent

8. Stockton

Number of cases this week: 888 cases (up 94 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 450.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP 11.8 per cent

9. Middlesbrough

Number of cases this week: 660 cases (up 65 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 468.2 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP 10.9 per cent

10. Sunderland

Number of cases this week: 1,146 cases (up 83 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 412.7 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP 7.8 per cent

11. County Durham

Number of cases this week: 2,096 cases (up 129 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 395.4 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP 6.6 per cent

12. Darlington

Number of cases this week: 357 cases (down 1 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 334.3 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN 0.3 per cent

13. Gateshead

Number of cases this week: 830 cases (down 110 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 410.8 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN 11.7 per cent

14. Hambleton, North Yorkshire

Number of cases this week: 174 cases (down 64 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 190.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 26.9 per cent

'We need to keep cases low until vaccines arrive'

Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, said: “The reason we are now seeing an overall R value of 1 in England is because numbers are falling in the North, rising in the Midlands and East but staying flat in the south of England.

“The continued rise in the Midlands, despite national lockdown, is concerning.

“This suggests an approach focused on improved compliance at regional, not national level, over a longer time frame is the best way forward.

“We need to keep cases low enough for us to function as a nation until vaccines arrive without further harmful lockdowns.”