THE latest data available on Covid infections shows the worst rate in Hambleton and Richmondshire is now in the Great Ayton and Stokesley areas.

According to the Public Health England data, for the seven days up to December 29, there were a total of 70 cases in Great Ayton and Stokesley and surrounding villages, an increase of 44 (169.2 per cent) on the previous seven-day period, giving a rolling rate of 906.9 infections per 100,000 people. The UK average is 450.6.

In neighbouring Hutton Rudby and Ingleby, where North Yorkshire's public health leaders had highlighted a hotspot of cases last week, there were 50 cases, an increase of four (8.7 per cent), taking the rolling rate of infections to 577.1 per 100,000 people.

Other areas with among the highest rates in Hambleton and Richmondshire include Northallerton, where it is understood there have been two care home outbreaks. For the seven days prior to December 29, there were 74 cases, an increase of 41 (124.2 per cent), giving a rolling rate of 548.7. For the same period, Richmond had 43 cases, up 29 (207.1 per cent), giving a rolling rate of 513.2.

The figures are unlikely to yet reflect mixing over the Christmas period, and come as Health Secretary Matt Hancock refused to rule out another national lockdown amid concerns the new variant coronavirus is spreading out of control.

Mr Hancock hailed the start of the rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine as an 82-year-old former maintenance manager became the first person to receive the jab outside of clinical trials.

He said the NHS has the capacity to deliver two million doses a week of the vaccine once it receives supplies from the manufacturers.

The latest data shows a 33 per cent rise in the number of confirmed coronavirus patients in hospital in England between Christmas Day and January 2.

Asked about the prospect of another national lockdown, Mr Hancock acknowledged that the current restrictions are insufficient to control the spread of the disease.

He told Sky News: “We don’t rule anything out, and we’ve shown repeatedly that we will look at the public health advice and we will take the public health advice in terms of what is needed to control the spread of the disease.

“This new variant is much easier to catch, it is much more transmissible, and we’re now seeing the effect of that in lots of different parts of the country, unfortunately.

“And it means that, whereas the old Tier 3 was able to contain the old variant, that is proving increasingly difficult in all parts of the country.”

North Yorkshire moved into Tier 3 from Tier 2 last week, while Tees Valley and County Durham moved from Tier 3 into Tier 4, currently the most severe level of restrictions.

The number of Covid cases by each postcode area from December 22-29

Hambleton

- Rudby & Ingleby 50

- Great Ayton & Stokesley 70

- Helmsley & Ampleforth 21

- Brompton, Appleton & Thimbleby 14

- Northallerton South & Leeming Bar 17

- Northallerton  74

- Bedale & Snape 15

- Leeming, Pickhill & Thornton 12

- Thirsk North 11

- Thirsk South & Coxwold 18

Richmondshire

- North Richmondshire 23

- Richmond Town 43

- Upper Dales 18

- Leyburn, Middleham & Tunstall 23 

- Catterick & Brompton-on-Swale 24

- Catterick Garrison & Colburn 50