THE majority of areas across the North-East and North Yorkshire have reported rises in the number of Covid cases just days ahead of the Christmas period.

Eleven out of 14 council areas across the region have seen a rise in the number of new infections, compared to the week before.

It comes as restrictions are set to be relaxed for Christmas Day across England with up to three households permitted to mix.

The figures, which were published by Public Health England on December 21, show how some areas in our region have seen cases surge in the past seven days.

Newcastle, Gateshead and Stockton have seen case rates surge in infection rates with increases ranging from between 21.4 and 49.1 per cent.

Meanwhile Darlington, Sunderland and Redcar and Cleveland have all reported a fall in the number of new infections - with Darlington seeing the largest fall.

How the infection rate compares across each area in the North-East and North Yorkshire

The figures are from the seven days to December 15, compared with the rate in the seven days to December 8.

1. Richmondshire, North Yorkshire 

​Number of cases this week: 63 cases (up 24 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 117.3 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 61.5 per cent

2. Hambleton, North Yorkshire

​Number of cases this week: 67 cases (up 23 week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 73.1 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 52.3 per cent

3. Newcastle 

​Number of cases this week: 507 cases (up 167 week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 167.4 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 49.1 per cent

4. Gateshead

​Number of cases this week: 237 cases (up 60 week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 117.3 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 33.9 per cent

5. Stockton

​Number of cases this week: 375 cases (up 66 from week before)

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

Cases are UP by 21.4 per cent

6. South Tyneside

​Number of cases this week: 467 cases (up 82 week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 309.3 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 21.3 per cent

7. Northumberland

​Number of cases this week: 586 cases (up 72 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 181.7 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 14.0 per cent

8. Middlesbrough

​Number of cases this week: 301 cases (up 17 week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 213.5 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 6.0 per cent

9. County Durham

​Number of cases this week: 867 cases (up 48 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 163.6 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 5.9 per cent

10. North Tyneside

​Number of cases this week: 276 cases (up 13 week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 132.7 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 4.9 per cent

11. Hartlepool

​Number of cases this week: 233 cases (up 6 week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 248.8 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 2.6 per cent

Where cases have gone down

The number of new infections have fallen in these areas have fallen in the past week: 

1. Darlington

​Number of cases this week: 185 cases (down 28 week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 173.2 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 13.1 per cent

2. Sunderland

​Number of cases this week: 411 cases (down 58 week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 148.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 12.4 per cent

3. Redcar and Cleveland

​Number of cases this week: 192 cases (down 5 week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 140.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 2.5 per cent

Warning to 'act responsibly' over Christmas

As it was confirmed the North-East would remain under Tier 3 restrictions, and North Yorkshire under Tier 2, residents were on Thursday warned to 'act responsibly' over the Christmas period.

Council leaders in the north of the region representing County Durham, Gateshead, Sunderland, Newcastle, North and South Tyneside and Northumberland, urged residents to reconsider their plans as the rules are relaxed for December 5.

At the time, they said: "But this will be a long process and we all need to be patient.

"That is why we are asking everyone to carefully consider their plans and actions over the festive period.

They went on to say: "Just because the law says we can all meet three households over five days, doesn’t mean we should to choose to do so.

"Increases in social contact and household mixing over Christmas could see infections rise steeply again in the New Year so we must act responsibly to supress the virus.

"Of course, we understand people wanting to see each other but we also want families to be able to see each other and celebrate future Christmases, birthdays and family events.

"For the sake of yourselves, your loved ones and the wider community please continue to follow all the guidance. Hands. Face. Space. And book a test if you have symptoms."

At the weekend, the PM scrapped Christmas bubble rules for London and the South-East following a rise in the number of new cases as a mutant strain had been identified.

He also confirmed that Christmas bubble rules would be reduced from the original five-day period to just one day, on Christmas Day.