Covid cases continue to rise in the North East with almost all authority areas recording more than a 50% rise in cases compared to the previous seven day period.
Government data reveals that recorded cases in County Durham increased by a huge 85.7% in the seven days to March 13. While cases increased by 68.4% in Gateshead and 68.0% in Northumberland.
It comes amid criticism of Government ministers over plans to scrap much of the Covid surveillance along with free testing - which will end on April 1.
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Funding is also being withdrawn from the Zoe Covid symptom study, as well as the Siren and Vivaldi studies which monitor infections in health workers and care homes.
And scientists announced last week that the 'React' study will be scrapped at the end of March, with no further data will be collected beyond that point. The study randomly tests around 150,000 people across England every month to see how many are infected with Covid.
The local authority in our region with the highest Covid rate per 100,000 people over the seven days to March 13 was Northumberland , where it was 590.8. That was based on 1,913 cases across the county and is up 68.0% on a week earlier.
In North Tyneside the figure is 540.5, which is up by 53.8% in a week based on 1,129 cases, while Newcastle 's rate on that date was 509.7. That was up by 67.6% on a week earlier, and based on 1,564 cases.
In County Durham the rate also increased by a huge 85.7% to March 13, hitting a case rate of 439.7 per 100,000 people based on 2,344 cases. In Sunderland there was a case rate of 408.5 and an increase of 53.6% based on 1,135 cases.
Gateshead 's equivalent figure is 396.1, which is up by 68.4%. While South Tyneside currently has a case rate of 320.2 per 100,000 people.
The North East areas with the highest Covid-19 rates per 100,000 people over the seven days to March 13:
North Gosforth - 114 new cases and a rolling rate of 1,118.7
Alnwick - 62 new cases and a rolling rate of 912.4
Tynemouth West - 52 new cases and a rolling rate of 893.0
Coxlodge & West Gosforth - 91 new cases and a rolling rate of 876.1
Kingston Park & Dinnington - 120 new cases and a rolling rate of 867.8
Percy Main - 68 new cases and a rolling rate of 866.2
South Gosforth - 82 new cases and a rolling rate of 858.4
Ashington West - 63 new cases and a rolling rate of 853.4
Ashington South - 41 new cases and a rolling rate of 836.1
North Heaton - 70 new cases and a rolling rate of 818.3
Wideopen & Seaton Burn - 63 new cases and a rolling rate of 812.5
Blyth South - 52 new cases and a rolling rate of 809.2
