NEW data shows that Herefordshire has the fourth hightest coronavirus infection rate in the country.

The statistics, released by the Government, show the rolling seven-day rate of new cases of Covid-19 for each of the 315 local authorities in England.

The figures, which are for the seven days to July 13, are based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government's testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).

The rate is expressed as the new number of new cases per 100,000 population.

In Herefordshire, the rate has risen from 3.1 to 43.2, with 83 new cases recorded in the seven days to July 13, linked to an outbreak on AS Green and Co in Mathon, near Ledbury.

Some 93 cases have now been confirmed at the farm, which supplies vegetables to some of the UK's largest supermarkets.

Around 200 workers remain on-site where they are isolating and are being looked after by Herefordshire Council and Public Health England.

Officials say the risk to the wider public is low.

FARM OUTBREAK LATEST:

In Leicester, the rate has dropped from 126.7 in the seven days to July 6 to 99.7 in the seven days to July 13. 

It was 141.0 in the seven days to June 29.

Second on the list is Pendle, where the rate has gone up from 28.4 to 65.6, and where 60 new cases have been recorded in the seven days to July 13.

Other areas reporting notable week-on-week jumps include:

  • Blackburn with Darwen, Lancashire (up from 36.3 to 48.3, with 72 new cases in the seven days to July 13)
  • Pendle, Lancashire (up from 28.4 to 65.6, with 60 new cases in the seven days to July 13)
  • Luton, Bedfordshire (up from 14.9 to 27.6, where 59 new cases have been recorded in the seven days to July 13)

The list is based on Public Health England figures updated on July 16 on the Government’s coronavirus online dashboard.

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Data for the most recent three days (July 14 to 16) has been excluded as it is incomplete and likely to be revised.

Here is top 20 authorities in England with the highest infection rates in the seven days to July 13, followed by the equivalent figure for the previous seven days to July 6.

  1. Leicester 99.7 126.7
  2. Pendle 65.6 28.4
  3. Blackburn with Darwen 48.3 36.3
  4. Herefordshire 43.2 3.1
  5. Bradford 35.4 36.7
  6. Oadby and Wigston 31.5 36.8
  7. Rochdale 30.0 35.9
  8. Peterborough 29.3 21.4
  9. East Staffordshire 28.7 7.6
  10. Luton 27.6 14.9
  11. Kirklees 27.1 34.4
  12. Kettering 24.7 15.8
  13. Braintree 23.8 4.0
  14. Calderdale 20.9 11.4
  15. Northampton 20.9 23.1
  16. Eastbourne 20.4 10.7
  17. Wakefield 20.0 14.8
  18. Rotherham 19.3 17.4
  19. Dartford 16.4 12.8
  20. Carlisle 15.7 24.9

Other nearby local authorities:

135. Malvern Hills 3.8 6.4

156. Shropshire 3.1 5.9

160. Worcester 2.9 4.9

306. Forest of Dean 0.0 2.3