AN area has become the first in the region to see the Government advise against travel following concerns over infection rates - and the Indian variant.

North Tyneside, which covers the likes of Whitley Bay, Tynemouth and North Shields, has been added to guidance published from the Government advising people to stay away.

It has also advised people to avoid mixing indoors, keeping 2m apart from those outside their bubble, and to avoid non-essential travel.

Read more: North Tyneside: What you need to know as guidance quietly changed

It emerged this week that several places across England had been quietly added to advise issued, with local leaders saying they were kept in the dark.

The guidance, which is advice - and not law - was published on the Government website on Friday without any form of official announcement.

But what are the numbers behind the move? We've looked at the latest Covid case rates for the region, and the area, to see why the Government has added the area to its list.

Looking at the most available Covid rates in the past seven days, sixteen postcode areas across North Tyneside have seen new cases.

Read more: Indian variant: Don't travel to Covid hotspots 'unless essential'

According to Public Health England data, published last night, the area as a borough has seen cases rising for the past fortnight.

In the last seven days to May 19, compared with the seven days to May 12, cases were up by 70 per cent with 114 new cases - an increase by 47.

In the seven days before that to May 12, cases were up by 86.1 per cent with 67 new cases - an increase by 31. 

These are the infection rates for North Tyneside 

Whitley Bay North - 5 new cases (150 per cent rise - up 3) 

Whitley Sands - 7 new cases (250 per cent rise - up 5)

West Monkseaton - 6 new cases (100 per cent rise - up 3)

Shiremoor North & South Wellfield - 7 new cases (75 per cent rise - up 3)

Monkseaton - 4 new cases (100 per cent rise - up 2)

Cullercoats - 4 new cases (100 per cent rise - up 2)

Shiremoor South & West Allotment - 3 new cases (50 per cent rise - up 1)

Preston Grange - 7 new cases (250 per cent rise - up 5)

New York - 11 new cases (57.1 per cent rise - up 4)

Tynemouth West - 4 new cases (33.3 per cent rise - up 1)

Longbenton - 5 new cases (66.7 per cent rise - up 2)

Chirton  - 3 new cases (25 per cent drop - down 1)

Howdon - 5 new cases (150 per cent rise - up 3)

Percy Main - 5 new cases (66.7 per cent rise - up 2)

Willington Quay - 14 new cases (600 per cent rise - up 12)

Wallsend East - 9 new cases (200 per cent rise - up 6)

On a regional level, North Tyneside now has the highest infection rate with 54.8 cases per 100,000 population.

The next closest is Newcastle, with 46.6 cases per 100,000 population - while remaining areas in the North-East and North Yorkshire have a notably lower infection rate.

The advice on gov.uk states that people should try to “avoid travelling in and out of affected areas unless it is essential, for example for work (if you cannot work from home) or education”.

The guidance applies to North Tyneside, Bedford, Blackburn and Darwen, Bolton, Burnley, Kirklees, Leicester, and Hounslow – all areas that have seen outbreaks of the fast-spreading strain.

It states: “The new Covid-19 variant spreads more easily from person to person. To help stop the spread, you should take particular caution when meeting anyone outside your household or support bubble.

“In the areas listed, wherever possible, you should try to meet outside rather than inside where possible, keep two metres apart from people that you don’t live with (unless you have formed a support bubble with them), this includes friends and family you don’t live with, [and] avoid travelling in and out of affected areas unless it is essential, for example for work (if you cannot work from home) or education.”

It also advises people in the eight areas to get tested for Covid twice a week, continue to work from home if possible, and get vaccinated when offered the jab.