Coronavirus: All the places on the government’s Covid-19 watchlist
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Your support makes all the difference.The government’s official coronavirus watchlist has had 38 new local authorities added to it, including all 32 London boroughs, as cases of the infectious disease surge across the UK.
Friday was the second day in a row in which the highest number of Covid-19 cases yet have been recorded in the UK.
There were 6,874 lab-confirmed cases, taking the overall number to 423,236.
All of the London boroughs are listed as “areas of concern”.
Meanwhile, several major urban areas in the north have also been added to the list, including Leeds, Stockport, Wigan and Blackpool all of which have been deemed serious enough to be added to the “areas of intervention” list.
In these areas, people will no longer be allowed to mix with people outside their household or bubble in private homes, including gardens.
The government's weekly Covid-19 surveillance report reveals the incidence rate in the City of London is estimated at 11.5 per 100,000 people, while in Havering, in east London, it stands at 30.3.
The report states: “Case rates remain highest in North West and Yorkshire and Humber, with sharp rises noted in Merseyside and Tyneside.”
It adds: “By age group, cases rates remain highest in the 20-29 year olds.”
The head of immunisation at PHE said rates are “stubbornly high” among young people and urged them to maintain social distancing.
Mary Ramsay told PA: “As students return to university, they must remember to avoid gathering in large groups and stick to the rule of six.
“The more we allow this virus to spread, the more we will see people admitted to hospital and some may die.
“We are also beginning to see more of other respiratory infections that are common in the winter - measures to control Covid will also help to reduce the risk of catching these infections.”
Public Health England's (PHE) regional director for London has said the news will enable officials “to respond more rapidly and with additional measures should cases rise further and faster”.
Professor Kevin Fenton said: “The placement of London on the watchlist as an area of concern is a reflection of the rising number of cases of Covid-19 being shown by a range of indicators.
“We are currently seeing much more widespread transmission in the city and being recognised as an area of concern is an important step in our efforts to control the virus.”
Here is the full list of all the areas on the government’s watchlist:
Areas of intervention
Bolton
Rossendale
Hyndburn
Preston
Liverpool
Bury
Blackburn with Darwen
Halton
Burnley
Oldham
South Tyneside
Knowsley
Manchester
Wirral
Salford
Rochdale
Tameside
Bradford
St. Helens
Pendle
Warrington
Oadby and Wigston
Gateshead
Leicester
Newcastle upon Tyne
Sefton
Leeds
Sunderland
Birmingham
Wigan
Kirklees
Solihull
North Tyneside
Sandwell
Blackpool
Stockport
Trafford
Wyre
West Lancashire
Calderdale
Northumberland
Wolverhampton
Fylde
Chorley
South Ribble
Country Durham
Ribble Valley
Lancaster
Areas of enhanced support
Blaby
Hartlepool
Middlesborough
Stockton-on-Tees
Darlington
Redcar and Cleveland
Areas of concern
Hertsmere
Selby
Sheffield
Redbridge
Barking and Dagenham
Havering
Waltham Forest
Newham
Hounslow
Scarborough
Haringey
Hammersmith and Fulham
Hackney
Tower Hamlets
Hillingdon
Enfield
Harrow
Southwark
Islington
Ealing
Camden
Kensington and Chelsea
Brent
Lewisham
Barnet
Greenwich
Lambeth
Kingston upon Thames
Wandsworth
Westminster
Merton
Spelthorne
Sutton
Richmond upon Thames
City of London
Bromley
Bexley
Croydon
Additional reporting by PA.
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