RANKED: The Tyneside areas where you are most likely to catch Covid-19 right now

Coronavirus infection rates continue to rise across the UK and in Newcastle upon Tyne, official figures show.

Across the UK, there were 521,602 positive test results in the week to December 16, up to 51% from the week before.

Newcastle saw an increase of 21.4% in coronavirus cases over the last week, but has the lowest case rate in the country with 435.3 cases per 100,000.

The Cowgate neighbourhood saw the worst rise in Covid cases, with an increase of 175%, while Fenham have seen a large decrease of 36.6%.

Other areas in Newcastle to provide a decrease in cases are Walker South at 33.3% decrease, Scotswood with a decrease of 26.9% and Benwell with 22.2% less cases than the previous week.

North Gosforth and Woolsington & Airport have seen slight increases in case numbers of 1.3% and 1.7% respectively.

Throckley & Newburn has seen a slight decrease, with 7.3% less cases than last week.

The increases and decreases in the area rank the whole of Newcastle upon Tyne at 234 on a scale ranking the UK by the biggest rises in Covid cases.

Lambeth has ranked top of the Covid case rising list, with an increase in cases of 263.2% over the last seven days.

But rising case numbers can be seen in Newcastle too, with North Jesmond seeing an increase of 150% in coronavirus cases, and North Heaton seeing a spike of 126.6% more cases.

While Kingston Park & Dinnington has seen a decrease of coronavirus cases by 11.2%, official stats have ranked the area as the place in Newcastle with the highest case rates, with 918.4 cases reported in the week to December 16.

Despite a 42.3% increase in reported cases, Shieldfield & Heaton Park has been ranked as one of the lowest case rates in the local authority. Its cases have increased from 212.3 to 302 over the last week.

It ranks alongside Elswick (46.9% increase in cases) and City Centre & Arthur’s Hill (97.4% increase in cases) as some of the lowest ranked in highest case rates per local authority.

Coxlodge & West Gosforth is the area to watch, with an increase of 69.8% and cases rising from 414 to 702.8 over the past week.