RESIDENTS of a borough which has seen a 35 per cent rise in Covid cases have been told the figures misrepresent the generally improving situation and successes in arresting the spread of the virus.

While Public Health England statistics for Darlington in the week before March 12 show 135 cases in those seven days - a rise of 35, Darlington Borough Council’s health cabinet member said the town was doing comparatively well and praised residents for their efforts.

Councillor Kevin Nicholson said cases in Darlington peaked later than in any other local authority area in the North-East, so the borough’s recovery was taking longer.

He said: “If we look at October to March, Darlington’s trajectory of Covid hasn’t peaked as high and for as long as most other comparable Teesside local authorities and I think that’s to be celebrated.

“Our population do a fantastic job in sticking to the guidelines in very difficult circumstances.”

Cllr Nicholson said the pioneering work to identify Covid cases in the borough had been singled out for praise by the Health Secretary.

Some 25,000 lateral flow tests have now been carried out in the borough, identifying more 364 people with Covid who were asymptomatic.

In addition, 26,000 school pupils tested and 19 pupils have tested positive.

Penny Spring, the council’s director of public health, said there had been “phenomenal response” to testing in Darlington and that residents would increasingly be able to take tests at home.

She said: “We are hopefully moving out of Covid to a certain degree and it is important we prepare for recovery.”