A BEFORE and after map has revealed how Covid infections have surged across the region in just four weeks.

Stark maps comparing the situation with that from four weeks ago show how the infection rate has surged in the North East.

It comes as almost all lockdown restrictions, including mandatory use of face coverings, are set to be relaxed in line with the Government's roadmap on July 19.

Read more: The Covid situation in hospitals in the North East and North Yorkshire

Meanwhile NHS bosses across the region have urged caution, warning that pandemic "is not yet over" as local leaders have called for people to act "responsibly."

The maps, which show a dramatic change in infections in the space of just a month, show the region is seeing among the highest case rates in the UK.

On the map, white areas show where cases are almost non-existent (suppressed), lighter green colours show low infection rates, while darker blues and purple show the highest rates.

The map then breaks down cases by the rate of infection per 100,000 population, meaning areas where the virus is concentrated and has more prevalence is darker.

How the map is broken down 

- White - virus suppressed

- Yellow - up to nine cases per 100,000 population

- Light green - between ten and 49 cases per 100,000 

- Dark green - between 50 and 99 cases per 100,000 

- Light blue - between 100 and 199 cases per 100,000

- Dark blue - between 200 and 399 cases per 100,000

- Purple - between 400 and 799 cases per 100,000

- Deep purple - more than 800 cases per 100,000

Here's how the picture has changed in each part of the North-East and North Yorkshire (slide the white bar along to reveal before and after)

The maps all compare the rates in the week leading to June 3 (left) with the week leading to July 1 (right).

Due to formatting, white spaces may appear between each sliding map depending on your device

County Durham

In County Durham, cases have spiked as the number of infections have jumped by thousands in the space of a month.

Back in the week to June 3, there were 109 cases and the county had an infection rate of 20.6 cases per 100,000 people.

This is now 3,100 cases, in the week leading to July 1, with a Covid infection rate of 584.8 cases per 100,000 people.

Darlington

In Darlington, the Covid infection rate had dropped significantly following the third lockdown as cases fell to just seven, with an infection rate of 6.6, in the week to June 3.

The situation has now changed with 484 cases reported in the week to July 1, and the infection rate climbing to 453.2 cases per 100,000.

Teesside and Hartlepool

Across Hartlepool and Teesside, all council areas have seen a significant rise in Covid cases in the past month.

Hartlepool has gone from having just three cases in the week to June 3, and an infection rate of 3.2 cases per 100,000 to 394 cases and 420.7 per 100,000 in the past week. 

Middlesbrough has seen 479 new cases in the past week with a current infection rate of 339.8 per 100,000 - it had previously seen 35 cases with 24.8 cases per 100,000. 

Redcar and Cleveland recorded 523 new Covid cases in the past week and now has an infection rate of 381.3 per 100,000 - its previous infection rate was 11.7 with 16 cases.

Meanwhile, Stockton recorded 584 cases in the past week with an infection rate of 295.9-  the rate in the area in June was 19.8 per 100,000 with 39 cases.

What health bosses and leaders have said

The Government has said it has been able to go ahead with the easing of lockdown restrictions due to the progress of the vaccination programme.

Earlier this month, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the link between Covid cases and deaths had been "broken" due to the rollout of the jabs.

This was later rebuffed with scientists instead saying that the link had been "weakened," but that the vaccine was working.

But this week, and as it emerged almost all restrictions will lift, local leaders and health bosses continued to urge caution ahead of July 19.

'We're not out of the pandemic yet'

Chief Nurse Lindsey Robertson at the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust warned that the country was "not out" of the pandemic yet.

Meanwhile, leaders covering the seven councils in the north of the region issued a statement asking for people to act responsibly and to get the jab.

In a joint-statement, leaders representing County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Sunderland, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Northumberland, said: "Currently, our region has some of the highest rates of infections in England.

"That puts an even greater responsibility on us all to play our part in protecting our loved ones, our neighbours, and our colleagues. 

'We will soon have a personal choice'

"Measures such as wearing a face covering and keeping a safe distance from others have become second nature to many, but soon we will have a personal choice to make as to whether we continue them or not.

"These will be our own choices to make and only you can decide which steps you should take to keep yourself safe and be considerate of those around you, including those who may be vulnerable or anxious. 

"We know that these measures are effective at helping to reduce transmission and we would ask you to continue to exercise these and all other precautions where appropriate, such as in shops and on public transport."

The leaders echoed claims the vaccination programme was breaking the link between transmission and serious illness.

However they urged everyone to come forward and have both doses to help protect against emerging variants. 

Read more: North East trust reveals majority of its Covid patients are NOT fully vaccinated

They said: "Already we are seeing the signs that vaccines are breaking the link between transmission and serious illness in many instances.

'Clearly, Covid-19 will be with us for a considerable time to come'

"But for vaccines to be as effective as they can be, and to fend off the genuine threat of new and more dangerous variants, we need everybody to come forward for both doses."

They added: "Clearly, Covid-19 will be with us for a considerable time to come. But with the lessons we have learned throughout the pandemic, coupled with the incredible rollout of vaccines, we are equipped to minimise the impact of expected changes to restrictions if we continue to work together as we have done throughout.

"Until then, please remember that existing restrictions apply, and continue to practice the Hands, Face, Space, Fresh Air guidance at all times."

To view the maps on the Government's dashboard - click here

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