Covid-19 regional rates at pre-Christmas levels in London and eastern England

Covid-19 case rates in two regions of England are at their lowest level since before Christmas, latest figures show.

In London, the rolling seven-day rate as of January 15 stood at 703.7 cases per 100,000 people – down from 1,053.4 a week earlier, and the lowest since the seven days to December 19.

Eastern England is currently recording a seven-day rate of 526.8, down from 763.5 and the lowest since December 20.

In both regions, rates are also falling in every local authority area.

All regions of England are continuing to show a week-on-week fall in seven-day rates, though levels are dropping faster in some areas than others.

In south-east England, the rate currently stands at 503.2 cases per 100,000 people, down from 701.7 a week earlier and the lowest since December 26.

South-west England has recorded a smaller week-on-week drop, from 401.3 to 343.2 – the lowest since January 1.

The figures, which have been calculated by the PA news agency using Public Health England data, suggest the England-wide lockdown introduced on January 5 is having an impact.

Regional rates in the Midlands and northern England did not rise quite as sharply during the second half of December as in southern and eastern England.

This is why the week-on-week fall in rates for these regions is not quite as steep.

In the East Midlands, the rate is down from 478.1 for the seven days to January 8 to 402.8 for the seven days to January 15, and in the West Midlands it has fallen from 647.8 to 571.9.

North-east England is currently at 335.2, down from 433.3, while Yorkshire & the Humber is at 259.1 – the lowest regional rate in England – down from 335.5.

In north-west England, the rate has fallen from 646.4 to 528.6.