Coronavirus: Where Peterborough ranks in the list of England ‘hotspots’ for new positive tests

Data reviewed by JPIMedia has revealed that out of 313 local authorities in England, Peterborough ranks 66th highest for the number of positive tests per 100,000 of population registered between May 9 and 23.

Over that fortnight, there were 62 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Peterborough.

This placed the city higher than South Holland (69th), Fenland (121st) and South Kesteven (268th).

However, Huntingdonshire is ranked eighth highest on the list with 91 positive tests over the two week period.

This meant there were 51.1 confirmed cases per 100,000 of population.

With the number of new cases nationally on the decline and efforts under way to release blanket restrictions, attention is shifting to the pockets of the country where the virus continues to spread.

Areas which have seen a high number of new cases in recent weeks include Ashford, Hartlepool and Blackpool in England.

Lockdowns on towns seeing spikes in infection rates are part of the ‘test and trace’ system introduced in England on Thursday.

At Tuesday’s daily press briefing, health secretary Matt Hancock said: “We will have local lockdowns in future where there are flare-ups.

“We have a system that we are putting in place with a combination of Public Health England and the new Joint Biosecurity Centre, along with the local directors of public health, who play an absolutely crucial role in decision-making in this system to make sure if there is a local flare-up, we have a local lockdown.”

Ashford in Kent saw the highest rate of people testing positive for coronavirus in the two weeks to May 23, JPIMedia analysis of official figures shows.

It had 143 new cases, equivalent to 110 for every 100,000 people.

West Devon, in contrast, saw no new cases over the same time period.