THE Covid infection rate has started to decline in parts of the region as latest figures reveal a downwards trend in cases.

Nine out of 14 council areas across the North East and North Yorkshire have recorded fewer cases than the week before.

Promising figures, which show some areas have seen a fall of almost a quarter in the past seven days, show hundreds of fewer cases have been reported.

South Tyneside and Gateshead are among those areas which have recorded the biggest decline in new cases, while County Durham is starting to see a drop.

Read more: North East and Tees Valley to get enhanced Government Covid support

But in Darlington, parts of the Tees Valley and North Yorkshire, case rates have continued to climb with some areas seeing among the highest rates in the country.

The figures, which show the picture in the seven days to July 20, show the picture just one day after 'Freedom Day,' when almost all restrictions were relaxed.

The Northern Echo: The latest situation Picture: UK GOVERNMENTThe latest situation Picture: UK GOVERNMENT

That means there is still the potential to see "improving" areas begin to see case rates climb as more data becomes available.

The data follows on from last week's sudden announcement that the Government would make efforts to intervene in the region's soaring case rates.

The current infection rate in the region is still the highest in the country - 885.4 cases per 1000,000 people but has actually dropped in recent days.

The Yorkshire and The Humber region has the next highest rate in the country with 629.1 cases per 100,000 population.

On Friday, the Government said every area in the North East including the Tees Valley had been identified as an 'Enhanced Response Area.'

That means the Government is due to put in place a support package for the next five weeks allowing for "targeted" action.

This action will then include the option to deliver extra testing in targeted areas and provision of logistical support to maximise vaccine and testing uptake.

It will also provide further help for local public health campaigns, raising awareness of the region's situation.

However, experts have said schools closing for the summer break is likely to be one of the reasons why coronavirus cases are falling across the UK.

Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Modelling group (Spi-M) advising ministers, said he is “cautiously optimistic” about dropping cases but only time will tell if the third Covid wave is “turning round”.

The expert in infectious diseases, from the University of Warwick, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that “any situation where cases are falling clearly is good news”.

But he added: “I think what we need to think about, though, is that there has been a change recently and I think the big one is that, in a lot of parts of the country, schools have now closed for the summer."

However, to give you the picture in your area, we've looked at the latest Government figures to bring you a list of where cases are going up and down across the region.

The areas that have seen a fall in new cases

NORTH TYNESIDE

​Number cases this week: 1,458 (down 96)

Covid infection rate: 701.3 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN 6.2 per cent

NORTHUMBERLAND

​Number cases this week: 2,038 (down 122)

Covid infection rate: 632.1 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN 5.6 per cent

NEWCASTLE

​Number cases this week: 2,265 (down 364)

Covid infection rate: 748.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN 13.8 per cent

GATESHEAD

​Number cases this week: 1,575 (down 353)

Covid infection rate: 779.5 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN 18.3 per cent

SOUTH TYNESIDE 

​Number cases this week: 1,470 (down 453)

Covid infection rate: 973.7 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN 23.6 per cent

SUNDERLAND

​Number cases this week: 2,700 (down 135)

Covid infection rate: 972.3 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN 4.8 per cent

COUNTY DURHAM

​Number cases this week: 4,012 (down 77)

Covid infection rate: 756.8 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN 1.9 per cent

HARTLEPOOL

​Number cases this week: 963 (down 6)

Covid infection rate: 1,028.2 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN 0.6 per cent

Where cases are going up

DARLINGTON

​Number cases this week: 975 (up 120)

Covid infection rate: 912.9 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP 14.0 per cent

STOCKTON

​Number cases this week: 2,313 (up 614)

Covid infection rate: 1,172.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP 36.1 per cent

REDCAR AND CLEVELAND

​Number cases this week: 2,010 (up 471)

Covid infection rate: 1,465.5 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP 30.6 per cent

MIDDLESBROUGH

​Number cases this week: 1,860 (up 292)

Covid infection rate: 1,319.3 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP 18.6 per cent

HAMBLETON, NORTH YORKSHIRE

​Number cases this week: 610 (up 123)

Covid infection rate: 666.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP 25.3 per cent

RICHMONDSHIRE, NORTH YORKSHIRE

​Number cases this week: 331 (up 66)

Covid infection rate: 616.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP 24.9 per cent

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