A NUMBER of areas across the region including County Durham reported a rise in the number of new Covid infections in the past week.

Latest Public Health England figures show that as well as County Durham, cases were up in South Tyneside and Hartlepool - with one area seeing an 82 per cent rise.

The figures, which show the picture in the week leading to April 20, compared with the previous seven days, showed three out of the region's 14 council areas reported the rise.

It comes as more data is now available following the easing of Covid lockdown restrictions on April 12 which saw non-essential retail and outdoor hospitality reopen.

On the first day after such restrictions were lifted, Covid cases across the region actually only appeared to rise in one area - with Middlesbrough seeing a slight increase.

The Northern Echo:

The areas of yellow indicate areas with fewer than nine new Covid cases, and green areas show areas with fewer than 49 cases 

But as more data has since become available, more areas have reported a slight increase in the number of new infections there.

Although cases have increased in those parts, the remaining council areas across the North-East and North Yorkshire have promisingly continued to report a drop.

This is likely to be down the current rollout of the Covid vaccination programme as it is extended to more age groups, and the gradual lifting of restrictions.

But latest analysis of this data has shown cases in Hartlepool, County Durham and South Tyneside were up 27, 13 and 82 per cent respectively.

Those areas reported rises between nine and 14 new cases in the past week, driving their infection rates up.

That comes as local health bosses previously warned residents not to become complacent as further restrictions are eased.

However, in a sign that figures are continually fluctuating, Middlesbrough was not among one of the areas to see a rise this week.

Instead, the area saw its cases fall by 21 per cent with eleven fewer cases than the previous week. 

This is the latest situation where you are as the figures reveal how each local authority area compares.

Where cases are up across the region

In order of Covid infection rates across the North-East and North Yorkshire

1. Hartlepool

​Number cases this week: 42 (up by 9)

Covid infection rate: 44.8 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 27.3 per cent

2. County Durham

​Number cases this week: 110 (up 13)

Covid infection rate: 20.8 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP 13.4 per cent

3. South Tyneside

​Number cases this week: 31 (up by 14)

Covid infection rate: 20.5 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 82.4 per cent

Where cases are down across the region

1. Newcastle

​Number cases this week: 112 (down by 1)

Covid infection rate: 37.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 0.9 per cent

2. Darlington

​Number cases this week: 32 (down 3)

Covid infection rate: 30.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN 8.6 per cent

3. Middlesbrough

​Number cases this week: 41 (down by 11)

Covid infection rate: 29.1 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 21.2 per cent

4. Stockton

​Number cases this week: 46 (down by 6)

Covid infection rate: 23.3 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 11.5 per cent

5. North Tyneside

​Number cases this week: 42 (down by 22)

Covid infection rate: 20.2 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 34.4 per cent

6. Redcar and Cleveland

​Number cases this week: 27 (down by 3)

Covid infection rate: 19.7 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 10 per cent

7. Gateshead

​Number cases this week: 35 (down by 7)

Covid infection rate: 17.3 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 16.7 per cent

8. Northumberland

​Number cases this week: 54 (down by 22)

Covid infection rate: 16.7 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 28.9 per cent

9. Sunderland

​Number cases this week: 46 (down by 24)

Covid infection rate: 16.6 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 34.3 per cent

10. Richmondshire

​Number cases this week: 7 (down by 4)

Covid infection rate: 13.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN 36.4 per cent

11. Hambleton

​Number cases this week: 7 (down by 0)

Covid infection rate: 7.6 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are the SAME