Leeds records highest weekly coronavirus infection rate since mid-May as 330 new cases confirmed

There were 330 new cases recorded in Leeds in the seven days to September 3, according to Government figures.

This is the equivalent of 41.6 cases per 100,000 people, up from 27.5 in the previous seven days to August 27.

In comparison, Bolton recorded a weekly rate of 115.8 new cases, with a rate of 72.7 in Rossendale and 67.8 in Bradford.

Leeds was put on Public Health England's weekly watch list of areas of concern on Friday following a rise in cases.

While being on the list will not mean any further restrictions on the city at this stage, it does mean increased monitoring of cases and potential additional steps in future if the city’s infection rates do not start to fall.

The latest data suggests that a lot of the cases are in different areas of the city, meaning they may be linked to social interaction and leisure activities.

Visitors to pubs, bars, restaurants and social gatherings are being urged by Leeds City Council to do their bit to keep the city safe.

The council's director of public health, Victoria Eaton, said on Friday: “We’ve seen a tremendous amount of collective determination from people in Leeds to keep their city and each other safe through this crisis.

“Now it’s more important than ever that we all dig deep and do what we can to reverse this upward trend in our infection rates and curtail the spread."

Council leader Judith Blake said: “We have been working tirelessly with our partners and communities, doing everything within our power to keep the spread of this virus under control and to ensure Leeds stays open.

“However, we can’t accomplish that alone and this rise in infection rates means that inevitably, our window of opportunity is shrinking by the day and the city is rapidly approaching a tipping point.

“We completely understand that these past six months have put a tremendous strain on everyone in Leeds and that being able to get out, socialise and enjoy ourselves has provided a massive lift.

“But it is absolutely crucial that if we want to continue to do that, we all do it sensibly and responsibly and follow the latest guidance which is there to keep us all safe.”

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Thank you

Laura Collins