Is my area at risk of Tier 3 lockdown? App reveals 7 places on the brink

THIS new map reveals the seven places that could be next to be plunged into Tier 3 coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

Sunderland tops this week’s list compiled using the latest data from the Covid Symptom Tracker App.

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The North East of England is said to be at “another critical point” in fighting the virus and local council leaders are currently in talks regarding Tier 3 restrictions.

There are four areas in the North East that feature on the watchlist, Sunderland is first, followed by Newcastle Upon Tyne and South Tyneside.

County Durham is also on the list but it in 7th place, Hartlepool in County Durham topped the list last week.

Data from Public Health England (PHE) also backs the findings of the app and Sunderland currently has 332 cases per 100,000 of the population.

PHE data is calculated from October 25 and shows that Newcastle Upon Tyne has 316.7 per 100,000, South Tyneside has 231.2 and Country Durham has 285.8.

Zoe app

The graph above shows the increase in cases in the UK from June to October [/caption]

Following the North East and Erewash in Eastern Derbyshire sits at number four on the list.

The whole of Derbyshire is set to be plunged into Tier 2 restrictions this weekend.

PHE data states that Erewash currently has 332.8 cases per 100,000 people.

While the area is just about to go into Tier 2 restrictions, data from the app states that it could be next to go into Tier 3.

Stoke-on-Trent, in Staffordshire, is fifth on the list.

The whole of Staffordshire is being moved to a Tier 2 alert level this weekend as cases continue to rise across the area.

According the PHE, Stoke-on-Trent currently has 311.3 cases per 100,000 of the population.

Council chiefs in the area have said the testing rate may be low as people are afraid to get tests as they don’t want to self-isolate.

Around 18 per cent of people being tested in the area are receiving positive Covid tests.

Wolverhampton is sixth on the list, and experts have already warned that the West Midlands could move into Tier 3 by next week if cases continue to rise.

Data from PHE states that Wolverhampton currently has 253.6 cases per 100,000 of the population.

 

While cases across some areas of the Midlands and the North are rising, the experts at Kings College London said cases are starting to level off in Scotland.

Data from the Covid Symptom Tracker app states that there are currently 43,569 daily new symptomatic cases of Covid in the UK on average over the two weeks up to 25 October (excluding care homes).

This has gone up from 36,251, which was seen a week ago.

The experts state that rates in the North are currently four times higher than in the South of the country.

Tim Spector, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London said that while cases are rising in the UK, people should be reassured that they aren’t “spiralling out of control”.

He said: “We are still seeing a steady rise nationally, doubling every four weeks, with the possible exception of Scotland which may be showing signs of a slow down.

“With a million people reporting weekly, we have the largest national survey and our estimates are in line with the ONS survey.

He said cases of the virus are rising but deaths are still average for the season.

The ONS states that the number of deaths in hospitals remained below the five-year average in Week 42 with 184 fewer deaths, while the number of deaths in private homes and care homes were above the five-year average at 776 and 90 more deaths respectively.

“As we become citizen scientists it’s important to look at multiple sources to get a broader view.

“Trends can be different at the local level and our app allows users to monitor this themselves”, he added.