St Helens week-on-week Covid rate rise is among the highest in the country

There were 1564 new cases of Covid-19 in the borough in the week to January 8, more than double the total of 706 recorded a week earlier.

This means the weekly rate in St Helens surged from 391.0 per 100,000 to 866.1 per 100,000.

The situation mirrors the alarming picture at neighbouring areas. Knowsley's week-on-week rise is the highest in the country.

Knowsley's rate went up sharply from 598.6 to 1,461.6, with 2,205 new cases.

This is particularly worrying for hospitals across St Helens and Whiston, which draw patients from both boroughs.

Figures surrounding the alarming rises were published as education and health leaders urged parents to only use school places for children if it is absolutely essential.

Cases of 5 to 10 year olds testing positive for Covid-19 locally have risen sharply and are at the highest rate seen so far in the pandemic, prompting school leaders to raise concerns about transmissions among pupils and staff.

Coronavirus cases in St Helens have soared

People classed as critical workers are allowed to send their children into school but locally there have been reports of high demand for places. Parents are being asked to keep their children at home if they can.

Of the 315 local areas in England, 225 (71%) have seen a rise in case rates, 89 (28%) have seen a fall and one is unchanged.

Barking & Dagenham in London continues to have the highest rate in England, with 3,451 new cases recorded in the seven days to January 8 – the equivalent of 1,620.9 cases per 100,000 people.

This is up slightly from 1,565.0 in the seven days to January 1. Newham, also in London, has the second highest rate, up from 1,366.1 to 1,468.3, with 5,185 new cases.

The 10 areas with the biggest week-on-week rise in rates are:

1 Knowsley (up from 598.6 to 1,461.6)

2 Halton (695.5 to 1,302.1)

3 Liverpool (493.5 to 1,085.9)

4 Sefton (529.6 to 1,113.2)

5 St Helens (391.0 to 866.1)

6 Tendring (844.0 to 1,251.4)

7 Wirral (607.1 to 979.9)

8 Worcester (452.5 to 811.1)

9 Isle of Wight (810.5 to 1,162.4)

10 Bournemouth Christchurch & Poole (549.9 to 888.4)

Meanwhile, a north west health chief has warned against complacency.

Dr Andrew Furber, regional director of public health in the region for Public Health England, is appealing for everyone to follow the rules and stay home as much as possible to help save lives.

Most people have not yet been vaccinated and will still be at risk of contracting Covid-19 for some time, he has warned, with case rates in the north west rapidly increasing.

He pointed to particular concern has been directed towards the 17-21 age group, which saw a 150 per cent increase in cases in the north west in the past week.

“While it is encouraging that vaccines are now being rolled out, people must not become complacent by thinking this pandemic is nearing the end. We have a long way to go,” Dr Furber said.

“No vaccines are 100 per cent effective, but people who have received them are at a greatly reduced risk, so even for those who have been immunised, there is still a small risk of infection.

“There was a marked jump in Covid-19 cases after Christmas, and this is showing no signs of slowing.

“It will take another week or two before infections caught during the festive period translate into people getting ill and being hospitalised.”

The increase in cases among 17 to 21-year-olds has been attributed to being more likely to work in close contact jobs such as retail or socialising together, particularly during the festive period.

Dr Furber has warned that while people of this age are less likely to experience severe symptoms, they can transmit the virus to other more vulnerable members of the population.

“There is also growing evidence of the seriousness of long-term Covid-19 – the effects of the disease that continue for weeks and months and possibly permanently, including damage to multiple organs,” he continued.

“Thrown into the mix is a new variant of Covid-19, which is proved to be highly transmissible and is now prevalent in many areas, while our hospitals are under pressure like never before.

“We need to be realistic – there is only so much the NHS can do, and we all must help our hard- working NHS staff to continue to care for everyone who needs it urgently to stem the rising tide of infections.”

Dr Furber says that people should continue to seek help for non-Covid-19 care.

He added: “Once again in our fight against Covid-19, we have reached a crucial point and it has never been more important to observe the rules.

“Stay at home as much as possible. If you have to go out for essential purposes, then behave like you and everyone you meet has the virus.

“Protect yourself and others by following good hand hygiene, keeping at least two metres apart and wear a face mask in enclosed spaces.

“These are all essential habits to adopt for the foreseeable future and we owe it to each other.”

Case rates across England

The list has been calculated by the PA news agency based on Public Health England data published on January 12 on the Government’s coronavirus dashboard.

Here is the list in full. From left to right, it reads: name of local authority; rate of new cases in the seven days to January 8; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to January 8; rate of new cases in the seven days to January 1; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to January 1.

Barking and Dagenham, 1620.9, (3451), 1565.0, (3332)

Newham, 1468.3, (5185), 1366.1, (4824)

Knowsley, 1461.6, (2205), 598.6, (903)

Redbridge, 1369.5, (4180), 1449.1, (4423)

Harlow, 1349.5, (1175), 1420.7, (1237)

Thurrock, 1327.3, (2314), 1549.8, (2702)

Halton, 1302.1, (1685), 695.5, (900)

Rushmoor, 1280.1, (1211), 1230.5, (1164)

Tendring, 1251.4, (1834), 844.0, (1237)

Broxbourne, 1235.6, (1202), 1398.0, (1360)

Enfield, 1224.7, (4088), 1234.0, (4119)

Bexley, 1216.7, (3021), 1211.9, (3009)

Waltham Forest, 1184.2, (3280), 1136.9, (3149)

Gravesham, 1181.0, (1263), 1210.0, (1294)

Tower Hamlets, 1168.6, (3795), 1250.2, (4060)

Castle Point, 1165.1, (1053), 1466.1, (1325)

Hounslow, 1163.1, (3158), 1093.5, (2969)

Isle of Wight, 1162.4, (1648), 810.5, (1149)

Epping Forest, 1154.2, (1520), 1448.9, (1908)

Slough, 1151.5, (1722), 1017.8, (1522)

Carlisle, 1151.1, (1251), 933.0, (1014)

Crawley, 1146.7, (1289), 958.1, (1077)

Havering, 1136.6, (2950), 1333.1, (3460)

Ealing, 1135.1, (3880), 917.8, (3137)

Greenwich, 1133.6, (3264), 1071.4, (3085)

Dartford, 1123.4, (1265), 1245.9, (1403)

Brent, 1120.8, (3696), 995.2, (3282)

Croydon, 1117.9, (4323), 1056.1, (4084)

Sefton, 1113.2, (3077), 529.6, (1464)

Liverpool, 1085.9, (5408), 493.5, (2458)

Lewisham, 1076.7, (3293), 1000.2, (3059)

Hillingdon, 1076.4, (3303), 962.0, (2952)

Basildon, 1072.7, (2008), 1284.2, (2404)

Haringey, 1072.4, (2881), 1047.1, (2813)

Southwark, 1069.8, (3411), 924.0, (2946)

Wolverhampton, 1065.1, (2805), 776.9, (2046)

Burnley, 1045.9, (930), 773.7, (688)

Eastbourne, 1034.3, (1073), 785.6, (815)

Braintree, 1007.2, (1537), 1133.7, (1730)

Lambeth, 1001.4, (3265), 879.4, (2867)

Sandwell, 1000.8, (3287), 686.6, (2255)

Barnet, 990.0, (3919), 1018.8, (4033)

Chelmsford, 984.9, (1757), 1069.6, (1908)

Wirral, 979.9, (3175), 607.1, (1967)

Corby, 979.0, (707), 656.3, (474)

Harrow, 974.7, (2448), 948.0, (2381)

Medway, 973.2, (2711), 1117.9, (3114)

Luton, 971.1, (2069), 766.5, (1633)

Southend-on-Sea, 964.9, (1767), 1210.1, (2216)

Sutton, 956.6, (1974), 1116.1, (2303)

Spelthorne, 943.5, (942), 897.4, (896)

Hertsmere, 938.8, (985), 1037.0, (1088)

Bedford, 937.1, (1624), 886.9, (1537)

Watford, 930.9, (899), 1010.6, (976)

Merton, 918.4, (1897), 1048.2, (2165)

Northampton, 917.1, (2060), 710.1, (1595)

Bromley, 916.5, (3046), 1131.7, (3761)

Hackney and City of London, 910.5, (2648), 929.7, (2704)

Brentwood, 908.8, (700), 1387.9, (1069)

Cherwell, 901.6, (1357), 842.5, (1268)

Colchester, 900.8, (1754), 819.2, (1595)

Pendle, 892.4, (822), 605.8, (558)

Welwyn Hatfield, 892.4, (1098), 795.7, (979)

Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole, 888.4, (3512), 549.9, (2174)

Maldon, 882.5, (573), 993.4, (645)

Stevenage, 870.9, (765), 821.9, (722)

St Helens, 866.1, (1564), 391.0, (706)

South Bucks, 863.8, (605), 1017.9, (713)

Milton Keynes, 863.6, (2327), 947.8, (2554)

Hastings, 822.4, (762), 880.6, (816)

Tandridge, 820.4, (723), 881.7, (777)

Walsall, 819.7, (2340), 623.5, (1780)

Islington, 816.6, (1980), 793.9, (1925)

Worcester, 811.1, (821), 452.5, (458)

Warrington, 807.1, (1695), 570.0, (1197)

Birmingham, 803.6, (9176), 570.3, (6512)

Wandsworth, 801.4, (2642), 777.7, (2564)

Rochford, 800.1, (699), 1094.2, (956)

Surrey Heath, 799.5, (714), 812.9, (726)

Reading, 795.5, (1287), 603.3, (976)

Hartlepool, 794.3, (744), 778.3, (729)

Epsom and Ewell, 787.6, (635), 840.9, (678)

Ashford, 786.7, (1023), 849.0, (1104)

Maidstone, 784.5, (1348), 850.9, (1462)

Folkestone and Hythe, 778.8, (880), 784.1, (886)

Hammersmith and Fulham, 772.9, (1431), 741.0, (1372)

Brighton and Hove, 767.0, (2231), 653.9, (1902)

Three Rivers, 757.6, (707), 969.8, (905)

Blackburn with Darwen, 757.5, (1134), 594.5, (890)

Worthing, 756.1, (836), 634.0, (701)

Woking, 739.1, (745), 744.1, (750)

Eden, 734.2, (391), 681.7, (363)

Reigate and Banstead, 732.8, (1090), 855.1, (1272)

Uttlesford, 730.7, (667), 857.8, (783)

Ipswich, 727.5, (996), 581.4, (796)

Lewes, 724.3, (748), 652.7, (674)

Hyndburn, 720.6, (584), 520.7, (422)

Adur, 720.1, (463), 594.1, (382)

Dudley, 714.6, (2298), 565.0, (1817)

Thanet, 713.1, (1012), 683.5, (970)

Bracknell Forest, 712.4, (873), 849.5, (1041)

Wycombe, 708.3, (1237), 699.1, (1221)

Kingston upon Thames, 701.4, (1245), 834.3, (1481)

Bromsgrove, 697.8, (697), 492.6, (492)

Kensington and Chelsea, 697.5, (1089), 633.5, (989)

Swale, 695.6, (1044), 813.6, (1221)

Allerdale, 693.5, (678), 451.1, (441)

Wealden, 688.7, (1112), 649.6, (1049)

Havant, 680.6, (859), 675.8, (853)

Camden, 677.7, (1830), 669.6, (1808)

East Hertfordshire, 675.1, (1011), 759.9, (1138)

Runnymede, 674.3, (603), 653.1, (584)

Derby, 673.1, (1732), 514.2, (1323)

York, 670.4, (1412), 496.6, (1046)

Mole Valley, 669.4, (584), 563.9, (492)

Southampton, 661.7, (1671), 622.9, (1573)

Redditch, 652.1, (556), 443.3, (378)

Arun, 651.3, (1047), 727.8, (1170)

South Staffordshire, 649.3, (730), 559.4, (629)

Elmbridge, 649.1, (888), 772.7, (1057)

Portsmouth, 646.3, (1389), 621.2, (1335)

Sevenoaks, 643.5, (777), 818.2, (988)

Windsor and Maidenhead, 639.9, (969), 715.9, (1084)

Dacorum, 638.4, (988), 700.4, (1084)

Rother, 638.0, (613), 676.5, (650)

Tonbridge and Malling, 636.4, (841), 780.9, (1032)

Norwich, 636.0, (894), 480.2, (675)

East Staffordshire, 633.0, (758), 542.8, (650)

Hart, 626.3, (608), 731.4, (710)

Cannock Chase, 625.2, (630), 525.0, (529)

Aylesbury Vale, 617.2, (1231), 650.3, (1297)

Wellingborough, 616.0, (491), 447.9, (357)

Barrow-in-Furness, 616.0, (413), 334.1, (224)

Ashfield, 612.9, (784), 540.2, (691)

Ribble Valley, 612.6, (373), 553.5, (337)

Broadland, 611.7, (800), 500.1, (654)

Dover, 610.3, (721), 562.9, (665)

Great Yarmouth, 609.0, (605), 550.7, (547)

Canterbury, 605.8, (1002), 566.5, (937)

Babergh, 601.9, (554), 566.1, (521)

Leicester, 598.2, (2119), 450.0, (1594)

St Albans, 592.8, (880), 759.2, (1127)

Westminster, 592.8, (1549), 577.8, (1510)

Telford and Wrekin, 591.6, (1064), 330.3, (594)

Oxford, 585.7, (893), 506.4, (772)

North Hertfordshire, 584.7, (781), 487.4, (651)

Daventry, 584.1, (502), 516.6, (444)

Coventry, 582.7, (2165), 422.3, (1569)

Copeland, 579.3, (395), 275.7, (188)

Waverley, 577.1, (729), 682.4, (862)

Central Bedfordshire, 574.4, (1658), 643.7, (1858)

Cheshire West and Chester, 573.9, (1969), 510.1, (1750)

Breckland, 573.0, (802), 458.0, (641)

Rossendale, 565.2, (404), 358.1, (256)

Rugby, 559.0, (609), 456.2, (497)

Fenland, 558.7, (569), 405.5, (413)

Selby, 554.0, (502), 339.9, (308)

Mansfield, 553.5, (605), 418.1, (457)

Peterborough, 552.3, (1117), 471.7, (954)

Swindon, 552.2, (1227), 527.9, (1173)

Basingstoke and Deane, 550.5, (972), 412.3, (728)

Wokingham, 545.8, (934), 578.5, (990)

Wychavon, 543.1, (703), 345.4, (447)

Oadby and Wigston, 542.0, (309), 522.7, (298)

Richmond upon Thames, 541.4, (1072), 662.1, (1311)

Mid Sussex, 541.0, (817), 605.2, (914)

Solihull, 539.3, (1167), 462.2, (1000)

Huntingdonshire, 538.3, (958), 502.9, (895)

Middlesbrough, 537.7, (758), 466.0, (657)

South Northamptonshire, 537.6, (508), 582.1, (550)

Horsham, 536.2, (771), 538.3, (774)

Guildford, 535.6, (798), 586.6, (874)

Gedling, 535.2, (631), 390.2, (460)

Lancaster, 532.7, (778), 339.0, (495)

Fareham, 532.6, (619), 523.1, (608)

Amber Valley, 529.1, (678), 494.7, (634)

Cambridge, 523.2, (653), 514.4, (642)

West Lancashire, 521.4, (596), 386.7, (442)

Nottingham, 518.8, (1727), 365.3, (1216)

Tunbridge Wells, 511.3, (607), 531.5, (631)

Nuneaton and Bedworth, 509.7, (662), 456.6, (593)

Kettering, 507.0, (516), 412.7, (420)

Lichfield, 505.9, (530), 437.2, (458)

Stafford, 504.1, (692), 378.8, (520)

Bristol, 503.3, (2332), 376.2, (1743)

Bolsover, 500.2, (403), 367.4, (296)

Tamworth, 498.1, (382), 402.9, (309)

Wyre Forest, 496.6, (503), 414.6, (420)

Trafford, 492.9, (1170), 366.1, (869)

Craven, 491.8, (281), 372.8, (213)

Gloucester, 491.0, (634), 496.4, (641)

Sunderland, 490.4, (1362), 480.4, (1334)

South Derbyshire, 490.4, (526), 386.9, (415)

Wigan, 490.2, (1611), 356.3, (1171)

Harrogate, 487.5, (784), 299.7, (482)

Manchester, 487.5, (2695), 326.5, (1805)

Chichester, 483.0, (585), 458.2, (555)

South Ribble, 481.1, (533), 321.3, (356)

Richmondshire, 478.3, (257), 469.0, (252)

West Suffolk, 477.0, (854), 412.2, (738)

Eastleigh, 473.1, (632), 503.1, (672)

Bury, 471.8, (901), 354.5, (677)

Shropshire, 471.6, (1524), 290.0, (937)

King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, 470.3, (712), 456.5, (691)

Gosport, 466.8, (396), 407.8, (346)

Chiltern, 466.0, (447), 536.9, (515)

Salford, 465.5, (1205), 299.0, (774)

County Durham, 462.4, (2451), 450.3, (2387)

East Suffolk, 462.2, (1153), 386.4, (964)

Blaby, 457.0, (464), 370.3, (376)

Darlington, 456.9, (488), 407.3, (435)

Stoke-on-Trent, 456.4, (1170), 344.0, (882)

South Gloucestershire, 455.3, (1298), 383.4, (1093)

Stockton-on-Tees, 450.0, (888), 415.0, (819)

Forest of Dean, 449.4, (390), 399.8, (347)

Preston, 445.0, (637), 319.3, (457)

East Hampshire, 444.8, (544), 416.2, (509)

Test Valley, 444.7, (561), 463.7, (585)

Rochdale, 444.7, (989), 312.9, (696)

Wyre, 444.3, (498), 341.7, (383)

Redcar and Cleveland, 444.0, (609), 314.3, (431)

Cheshire East, 440.7, (1693), 431.1, (1656)

South Cambridgeshire, 440.6, (701), 462.0, (735)

South Oxfordshire, 438.6, (623), 557.5, (792)

Hambleton, 437.8, (401), 382.1, (350)

South Tyneside, 435.8, (658), 496.1, (749)

Stockport, 434.5, (1275), 353.8, (1038)

New Forest, 425.9, (767), 325.4, (586)

North Warwickshire, 424.4, (277), 410.6, (268)

Sedgemoor, 423.8, (522), 481.4, (593)

East Cambridgeshire, 420.7, (378), 444.1, (399)

Mid Suffolk, 420.6, (437), 381.2, (396)

Gateshead, 418.2, (845), 404.3, (817)

West Oxfordshire, 415.8, (460), 413.9, (458)

Vale of White Horse, 412.5, (561), 420.6, (572)

Chorley, 412.0, (487), 303.7, (359)

Chesterfield, 409.0, (429), 262.2, (275)

Newark and Sherwood, 403.5, (494), 301.4, (369)

Erewash, 403.0, (465), 342.4, (395)

Bath and North East Somerset, 399.9, (773), 309.4, (598)

South Norfolk, 396.8, (559), 504.0, (710)

South Kesteven, 392.5, (559), 414.3, (590)

North Somerset, 389.7, (838), 359.9, (774)

North Norfolk, 389.2, (408), 387.3, (406)

Winchester, 387.6, (484), 485.3, (606)

Broxtowe, 387.6, (442), 335.0, (382)

High Peak, 385.3, (357), 253.6, (235)

East Northamptonshire, 385.1, (364), 349.1, (330)

Bolton, 385.0, (1107), 260.8, (750)

Oldham, 384.6, (912), 293.5, (696)

Tameside, 384.6, (871), 287.0, (650)

Harborough, 383.8, (360), 440.3, (413)

Wiltshire, 383.0, (1915), 284.8, (1424)

Herefordshire, 381.7, (736), 313.3, (604)

Somerset West and Taunton, 380.4, (590), 449.3, (697)

Rushcliffe, 379.2, (452), 329.7, (393)

Lincoln, 375.6, (373), 349.4, (347)

Warwick, 370.8, (533), 357.6, (514)

North West Leicestershire, 369.7, (383), 337.8, (350)

Hinckley and Bosworth, 365.9, (414), 291.7, (330)

Newcastle-under-Lyme, 360.8, (467), 299.8, (388)

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, 359.4, (2055), 320.7, (1834)

Doncaster, 359.1, (1120), 331.5, (1034)

Hull, 358.4, (931), 310.3, (806)

Dorset, 354.0, (1340), 281.4, (1065)

West Berkshire, 347.7, (551), 406.4, (644)

Stratford-on-Avon, 347.4, (452), 322.1, (419)

Leeds, 343.6, (2725), 291.0, (2308)

South Lakeland, 343.5, (361), 273.1, (287)

North East Derbyshire, 343.0, (348), 336.1, (341)

Blackpool, 342.8, (478), 263.2, (367)

Tewkesbury, 342.0, (325), 286.3, (272)

Cheltenham, 332.7, (387), 251.1, (292)

Charnwood, 329.3, (612), 291.6, (542)

Kirklees, 324.9, (1429), 244.2, (1074)

Fylde, 323.1, (261), 257.5, (208)

Rotherham, 318.8, (846), 287.1, (762)

Scarborough, 318.1, (346), 356.8, (388)

Malvern Hills, 317.7, (250), 236.3, (186)

Sheffield, 316.0, (1848), 242.8, (1420)

Bassetlaw, 311.6, (366), 304.8, (358)

Northumberland, 308.9, (996), 345.8, (1115)

Plymouth, 302.6, (793), 206.4, (541)

Boston, 302.1, (212), 242.3, (170)

North Kesteven, 301.9, (353), 301.9, (353)

North Tyneside, 299.6, (623), 247.7, (515)

Bradford, 299.2, (1615), 232.7, (1256)

Newcastle upon Tyne, 296.2, (897), 215.3, (652)

Calderdale, 295.6, (625), 270.5, (572)

Wakefield, 295.1, (1028), 267.6, (932)

Mid Devon, 294.0, (242), 238.1, (196)

Rutland, 290.5, (116), 245.4, (98)

Melton, 289.0, (148), 300.7, (154)

South Holland, 288.4, (274), 278.9, (265)

Ryedale, 287.1, (159), 314.2, (174)

South Somerset, 284.5, (479), 264.9, (446)

Exeter, 283.9, (373), 247.3, (325)

Mendip, 277.7, (321), 264.7, (306)

Staffordshire Moorlands, 273.3, (269), 270.2, (266)

Barnsley, 258.4, (638), 288.8, (713)

Cotswold, 258.2, (232), 288.2, (259)

Torbay, 255.4, (348), 123.3, (168)

East Devon, 254.3, (372), 175.0, (256)

West Lindsey, 251.9, (241), 249.8, (239)

Derbyshire Dales, 247.5, (179), 229.5, (166)

Teignbridge, 238.5, (320), 162.5, (218)

South Hams, 233.3, (203), 172.4, (150)

East Riding of Yorkshire, 232.1, (792), 221.3, (755)

Stroud, 225.1, (270), 258.4, (310)

North Lincolnshire, 195.0, (336), 230.4, (397)

East Lindsey, 187.0, (265), 175.7, (249)

North East Lincolnshire, 162.3, (259), 168.6, (269)

West Devon, 130.8, (73), 134.4, (75)

Torridge, 121.6, (83), 118.7, (81)

North Devon, 113.2, (110), 139.0, (135)