Northampton tops new Top 10 list of highest weekly Covid-19 rates after huge jump

Northampton has recorded the highest rate of new coronavirus infections in England this week, with 260 fresh cases.

This increase means the town’s infection rate now stands at around 115.8 per 100,000 people – up from 34.7 last week.

The latest infection rate figures for England cover the seven days up to August 11.

Northampton came top of the list after an outbreak at the Greencore sandwich factory, which supplies Marks & Spencer.

Almost 292 members of staff tested positive for Covid-19 amid warnings that Northampton could be put on lockdown to curb the surge in cases.

Some communities in the north-west, which has been put on lockdown, have also seen rising coronavirus rates.

Oldham came second on the weekly list with the infection rate jumping from 68.7 to 112.2 after 266 new cases were recorded.

Blackburn with Darwen is third with the rate up from 82.2 to 88.2 amid 132 new cases

However, the rate has stabilised at 84.7 in Pendle with 78 new cases.

Other places that saw significant increases in coronavirus rates were Kirklees, Manchester, Rochdale, Leicester and Birmingham.

Birmingham saw its rate increase from 13.8 to 28.1 after 321 new cases were recorded, while Rochdale went up from 36 to 45 with 100 fresh infections.

Manchester’s infection rate shot up from 34.9 to 40.7 amid 225 positive tests, while Kirklees saw the figure rise from 26.6 to 34.3 with 151 new cases.

Leicester, which is still under lockdown, has also seen a rise from 55.3 to 68, with 241 new cases.

Northampton now faces entering a local lockdown like Leicester, ITV reports.

Lucy Wightman, director of public health at Northamptonshire County Council, previously said: “Northampton borough has been experiencing a high number of cases over the last four weeks and residents and employees have been asked to ‘act now’ to follow additional measures, to avoid a local lockdown or further government intervention.”

Here are the places with the highest coronavirus infection rates in England:

• Northampton 115.8 – up from 34.7 with 260 new cases
   
• Oldham 112.2 – up from 68.7 with 266 new cases
   
• Blackburn with Darwen 88.2 – up from 82.2 with 132 new cases
   
• Pendle 84.7 with 78 new cases
   
• Leicester 68 – up from 55.3 with 241 new cases
   
• Bradford 57.8 – up from 55.6 with 312 new cases
   
• Rochdale 45.- up from 36 with 100 new cases
   
• Preston 43.3 with 62 new cases
   
• Manchester 40.7 – up from 34.9 with 225 new cases
   
• Calderdale 37.4 – down from 38.8 with 79 new cases