THE areas with the lowest Covid infection rates in our region have been revealed as council leaders urge people to follow the national "Stay Home" guidance.

46 postcode areas across County Durham, Darlington, Teesside and North Yorkshire have recorded the lowest infections in the past week.

Public Health England data made available last night shows where in the region case rates are at the lowest.

Out of those 46 which have all recorded an infection rate of fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 people, five are considered to have "suppressed" the virus.

Postcodes including Newton Aycliffe West, Gilesgate and Old Durham have all recorded fewer than two Covid cases meaning they are not flagged by Public Health England.

Meanwhile postcodes in areas including Leyburn, Seaham and Seaton Carew have recorded among the lowest infections with between three and four. 

Last night, council leaders in the north of the region warned residents to continue following the rules as third national lockdown rules start to be lifted.

Council leaders representing County Durham, Sunderland, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Northumberland, made the comments in a joint statement.

They said: "What today's announcement doesn't change for now is the need to stay at home and only go out for essential reasons, including staying local when exercising, maintaining social distancing at all times, wearing face coverings and continuing to regularly wash our hands.

"We urge everyone to take up the vaccine when offered and to those in the priority groups who may still not have had their first dose to come forward.

"There is growing evidence that the vaccines are highly effective in protecting our communities from Covid-19, having a significant impact on the risk of serious illness and reducing the risk of infection, giving us great reason to be optimistic."

They later added: "Let's not blow it now. Thank you for everything you are doing to beat Covid."

These are the areas with the lowest infection rates

These figures are from the week leading to February 17, compared with the week leading to February 10

Gilesgate & Old Durham

virus suppressed

Newton Aycliffe West

virus suppressed

Upper Teesdale

virus suppressed

Upper Dales

virus suppressed

Leyburn, Middleham & Tunstall

virus suppressed

Northallerton South & Leeming Bar

3 cases - 39.6 cases per 100,000 people

Easingwold & Stillington

4 cases - 43.3 cases per 100,000 people

Leeming, Pickhill & Thornton,

3 cases - 43.4 cases per 100,000 people

Seaham Northlea & Westlea,

4 cases - 44.7 per 100,000 people

Seaton Carew

3 cases  - 44.8 per 100,000 people

Rudby & Ingleby

4 cases - 46.2 per 100,000 people

Catterick & Brompton-on-Swale

3 cases - 48.5 per 100,000 people

Lanchester

3 cases - 50.5 per 100,000 people

Bearpark & Witton Gilbert

4 cases 50.5 per 100,000 people

Newton Aycliffe East

3 cases - 54.5 per 100,000 people

Chilton

 4 cases - 56.3 per 100,000 people

Chester-le-Street South & East,

5 cases - 60.1 per 100,000 people

Aykley Heads, Neville's Cross & Langley Moor

10 cases - 67.7 cases per 100,000 people

Barnard Castle

5 cases - 68.9  per 100,000 people

Richmond Town,

6 cases - 71.6 per 100,000 people

Newton Hall & Brasside

6 cases - 73.1 per 100,000 people

Linton, Tollerton & Raskelf

5 cases - 74 per 100,000 people

Ferryhill East & Cornforth

5 cases - 74.6 per 100,000 people

Faverdale, Heighington & Sadberge

7 cases 76.4 per 100,000 people

Saint Helen Auckland & West Auckland

7 cases  - 76.9 per 100,000 people

Loftus & Skinningrove

4 cases - 78.8 per 100,000 people

Boosbeck, Lingdale & Easington

5 cases - 79 per 100,000 people

Esh Winning & Ushaw Moor

5 cases - 79.1 per 100,000 people

Saltburn

5 cases - 81.8 per 100,000 people

Crook South

8 cases - 82.5 per 100,000 people

Marske

11 cases - 85 per 100,000 people

Evenwood, Cockfield & Staindrop

11 cases  - 86.4 per 100,000 people

Blackhall

5 cases - 87.5 per 100,000 people

Guisborough Outer & Upleatham

5 cases - 87.8 per 100,000 people

High Shincliffe & Bowburn

6 cases - 90.1 per 100,000 people

Guisborough North

6 cases - 90.2 per 100,000 people

Great Ayton & Stokesley

7 cases 90.7 cases per 100,000 people

Middleton & Hurworth

8 cases - 91 per 100,000 people

Thornaby South

5 cases - 94.7 per 100,000 people

Coundon North

7 cases - 95.1 per 100,000 people

Crook North & Tow Low

9 cases - 95.3 per 100,000 people

Rimswell & Bishopsgarth

5 cases - 96.3 per 100,000 people

Durham City

14 cases - 96.7 per 100,000 people

Roseworth

8 cases - 97.1 per 100,000 people

Newton Aycliffe South

7 cases - 98.2 per 100,000 people

Burnopfield

8 cases - 98.5 per 100,000 people