North East is only English region where coronavirus rates have 'levelled off'

The Government’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) says infection rates across England are still rising, except in the North East, where they “appear to have levelled off".

The highest regional Covid-19 infection rates remain in north west England and Yorkshire & the Humber, the ONS said.

The rates are estimated to have increased in all regions over recent weeks, except the North East.

Ruth Studley, head of analysis for the Covid-19 infection survey, said: “At a national level we are seeing infections slow across England and Wales but they are still increasing.

“Within England, every region apart from the North East has shown increased levels of infection.

“The level of infection in young adults and older teenagers appears to have levelled off recently.

“However, they continue to be the most likely to be infected despite increases in all other age groups.”

The department said older teenagers and young adults continue to have the highest positivity rates, though rates “now appear to be levelling off” in this group.

All other age groups have seen an increase in rates over recent weeks.

The lowest rates continue to be in south east England, south west England and eastern England.

When looking at new daily infections, the ONS said the rate across England appears to have “stabilised”.

There were an average of 45,700 new cases per day of Covid-19 in private homes between October 25 and 31, down from an estimated 51,900 new cases per day for the period from October 17 to 23.

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