Steep rise in coronavirus cases in Leeds as rate of infection nears 100

The city's infection rate, the number of new lab-tested cases per 100,000 people, stands at 98.5 on Thursday.

More than eight per cent of those tested received a positive result.

It's a significant rise from a rate of 83.9 on Wednesday.

Leeds City Council tweeted: "We're seeing a steep rise in COVID-19 cases in Leeds with today's rate at 98.5 per 100,000 and 8.4% of people tested being positive.

"Please do everything you can to be safe and check out the new NHS app."

It comes as the council dropped its strongest hint yet that it expects the city could be subject to further Covid-19 restrictions in the coming weeks.

The authority’s most senior civil servant claimed that the predicted increase in cases was likely to see Leeds continue to “rise through the tiers” of the Government’s Covid-19 watchlist.

One of the city’s top virus experts added that the number of cases at St James’ Hospital was already on the increase, and advised individuals to avoid meeting people from other households indoors wherever possible.

The UK’s most senior public health officials and politicians are expected to meet today to discuss the current spread of the virus, before announcing any extra local measures they deem necessary on Friday.

Following their meeting last week, the Government announced it would provide Leeds with “enhanced support” to help combat the spread of the virus.

While nobody within the council is likely to know what further decisions will be made until the end of this week, the authority’s chief executive Tom Riordan warned the number of cases was continuing to rise.

He told a meeting of Leeds City Council’s executive board: “The latest numbers show we are in the late 80s per hundred thousand – we expect that to continue to rise, with the increasing trends we have seen across the country.

“We have been in different tiers of the Government watch-list and, unless something dramatic happens, I think we would expect to continue to rise up those tiers, but we will hear more about that tomorrow.

“The work done to keep the cases from turning into outbreaks is extremely intensive and important, and is making a real difference. The rates are going up but not as quickly as other parts of the country.

“Our numbers will continue to rise and we will hear more tomorrow about whether we will enter into further restrictions.”

Outbreak of new coronavirus cases identified in Leeds student suburb​

A significant outbreak of new coronavirus cases has been identified in a suburb of Leeds.

Government data shows that nearly 50 new Covid-19 cases were recorded in the Hyde Park Corner and Woodhouse Cliff area of Leeds in just seven days.

The data breaks down the city of Leeds by Middle Super Output Area (MSOA) - a geographic measure of approximately 7,200 people.

Five north west Leeds areas, home to many of the city's students, recorded the most new cases in the city in the seven days to September 20.

There were 47 new lab-confirmed cases in the Hyde Park and Woodhouse Cliff MSOA during this period.

Woodhouse and Little London recorded 30 cases, while the University and Little Woodhouse area recorded 23.

There were 22 new cases in Headingley and 21 new cases in Hyde Park.