The five UK areas with the biggest increase in Covid cases
92 per cent of local authorities in the UK have seen a week-on-week rise in rates
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The five UK areas with the highest coronavirus rates are all in Scotland, according to the latest figures broken down by local authorities.
The figures are based on the government’s own Covid dashboard and are for the seven days to 6 September. The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.
Of the 377 local areas in the UK, 345 or 92 per cent have seen a week-on-week rise in rates, while just 31 (8 per cent) have seen a fall and one is unchanged.
Carmarthenshire in southwest Wales has the biggest increase in the UK, up from 424.6 to 742.9 cases per 100,000 people.
Clackmannanshire in Scotland has the second biggest week-on-week rise, from 715.5 to 1,009.9 cases per 100,000 people.
They are followed by Caerphilly (391.8 to 659.8), Vale of Glamorgan (331.9 to 571.3) and Fife (608.1 to 819.0).
Meanwhile, West Dunbartonshire has the highest Covid rate in the UK, with 1,133 new cases in the seven days to 6 September – the equivalent of 1,282.5 per 100,000 people.
North Lanarkshire has the second highest rate, down slightly from 1,266.0 to 1,237.0, with 4,220 new cases.
Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, and East Renfrewshire, all in Scotland, follow with the UK’s highest Covid rates.
The figures come as three Cornwall hospitals temporarily suspended surgeries in order to focus on emergency care caused by a peak in Covid admissions.
Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, which operates Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske, Truro, St Micheal’s Hospital, Hayle, and West Cornwall Hospital, Penzance, has more than 40 people in hospital who are Covid positive and nearly 50 more who are contacts and need to be isolated, CornwallLive reports.
In a statement, the trust’s medical director said it had taken the “difficult decision” as “Covid-related admissions [remain] high and health and care services in Cornwall [are] under continued pressure”.
The UK recorded a further 147 people deaths within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Thursday, bringing the UK total to 133,988.
Additional reporting by PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments