Coronavirus: All the places on the government’s Covid-19 watchlist

The government’s official coronavirus watchlist has had 38 new local authorities added to it, including all 32 London boroughs, as cases of the infectious disease surge across the UK.

Friday was the second day in a row in which the highest number of Covid-19 cases yet have been recorded in the UK.

There were 6,874 lab-confirmed cases, taking the overall number to 423,236.

All of the London boroughs are listed as “areas of concern”.

Meanwhile, several major urban areas in the north have also been added to the list, including Leeds, Stockport, Wigan and Blackpool all of which have been deemed serious enough to be added to the “areas of intervention” list.

In these areas, people will no longer be allowed to mix with people outside their household or bubble in private homes, including gardens.

The government's weekly Covid-19 surveillance report reveals the incidence rate in the City of London is estimated at 11.5 per 100,000 people, while in Havering, in east London, it stands at 30.3.

The report states: “Case rates remain highest in North West and Yorkshire and Humber, with sharp rises noted in Merseyside and Tyneside.”

It adds: “By age group, cases rates remain highest in the 20-29 year olds.”

The head of immunisation at PHE said rates are “stubbornly high” among young people and urged them to maintain social distancing.

Mary Ramsay told PA: “As students return to university, they must remember to avoid gathering in large groups and stick to the rule of six.

“The more we allow this virus to spread, the more we will see people admitted to hospital and some may die.

“We are also beginning to see more of other respiratory infections that are common in the winter - measures to control Covid will also help to reduce the risk of catching these infections.”

Public Health England's (PHE) regional director for London has said the news will enable officials “to respond more rapidly and with additional measures should cases rise further and faster”.

Professor Kevin Fenton said: “The placement of London on the watchlist as an area of concern is a reflection of the rising number of cases of Covid-19 being shown by a range of indicators.

“We are currently seeing much more widespread transmission in the city and being recognised as an area of concern is an important step in our efforts to control the virus.”

Here is the full list of all the areas on the government’s watchlist:

Areas of intervention

Bolton

Rossendale

Hyndburn

Preston

Liverpool

Bury

Blackburn with Darwen

Halton

Burnley

Oldham

South Tyneside

Knowsley

Manchester

Wirral

Salford

Rochdale

Tameside

Bradford

St. Helens

Pendle

Warrington

Oadby and Wigston

Gateshead

Leicester

Newcastle upon Tyne

Sefton

Leeds

Sunderland

Birmingham

Wigan

Kirklees

Solihull

North Tyneside

Sandwell

Blackpool

Stockport

Trafford

Wyre

West Lancashire

Calderdale

Northumberland

Wolverhampton

Fylde

Chorley

South Ribble

Country Durham

Ribble Valley

Lancaster

Areas of enhanced support

Blaby

Hartlepool

Middlesborough

Stockton-on-Tees

Darlington

Redcar and Cleveland

Areas of concern

Hertsmere

Selby

Sheffield

Redbridge

Barking and Dagenham

Havering

Waltham Forest

Newham

Hounslow

Scarborough

Haringey

Hammersmith and Fulham

Hackney

Tower Hamlets

Hillingdon

Enfield

Harrow

Southwark

Islington

Ealing

Camden

Kensington and Chelsea

Brent

Lewisham

Barnet

Greenwich

Lambeth

Kingston upon Thames

Wandsworth

Westminster

Merton

Spelthorne

Sutton

Richmond upon Thames

City of London

Bromley

Bexley

Croydon

Additional reporting by PA.