Leeds had the most positive Covid tests in England last week

Leeds had 3,615 positive tests, followed by Bradford with 2,996 and Sheffield with 2,569 positive test results, according to data from the Department for Health and Social Care released today for the week up to 28 October.

People in the 20-29 age group had the most positive tests, with 715 cases in that age group last week, however, other age groups have begun to catch up with a worrying rise in the number of people aged 50-59 being diagnosed, at 560 people.

People aged between 50 and 79 were more likely to have a positive test result, suggesting the virus could be more prevalent among middle-aged people then it appears.

Young adults are more likely to be exposed to the virus due to a higher rate of public-facing jobs and being in a university or college environment. However, they are at significantly lower risk than older generations.

Leeds's Covid contact tracing success rate has fallen for the fourth week running, the figures also reveal.

It comes as NHS Test and Trace reached its lowest ever proportion of close contacts nationally, with some 40 per cent of people not advised to isolate by contact tracers.

The data shows 19,434 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in Leeds were transferred to the Test and Trace service between May 28 and October 28.

That means 3,509 new cases were transferred in the latest seven-day period.

Contact tracers ask new patients to give details for anyone they were in close contact with in the 48 hours before their symptoms started.

This led to 45,262 close contacts being identified over the period – those not managed by local health protection teams, which are dealt with through a call centre or online.

But just 58 per cent were reached – a figure that has fallen steadily over a four-week period.

Across England, 58.5 per cent of contacts not managed by local health protection teams were reached and told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace in the latest week to October 28.

Local health protection teams deal with cases linked to settings such as hospitals, schools and prisons.

The contact tracing rate including these cases was 59.9 per cent – a record low.

Around 140,000 new cases were transferred nationally in the week to October 28.

Before the new figures were published, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said the month-long lockdown that began in England on Thursday will be used to “redouble our efforts” to expand the NHS Test and Trace programme.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said it is also vital to increase the speed at which test results are returned.

“Lots of people are receiving them the next day which is good, but there are still too many people who are having to wait for days and we are going to continue to work to speed that up,” he said.