Covid-19 cases are declining across the North East following an autumn surge, but Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside continue to record higher rates than the rest of the region. Data for the week to October 28 shows the wider North East had a rate of 5.48 cases per 100,000 people, while those three areas still see around 10 cases per 100,000.
Regional and national trends
Nationally, cases are also falling. The UK Health Security Agency's weekly surveillance report found: "Covid-19 activity decreased and is circulating at low levels. [Emergency Department] ED attendances for Covid-19-like illness decreased. The number of Covid-19 confirmed acute respiratory infections (ARI) incidents decreased compared with the previous week."
Principal epidemiologist at the UKHSA Ruth McCabe said: "What are we seeing from winter viruses this week? Things are looking relatively stable. Flu remains at low levels."
"RSV is still at baseline levels and Covid-19 positivity appears to be decreasing slightly. Right now, rhinovirus, one of the viruses which causes the common cold is circulating more widely than the other winter viruses. So if you're feeling unwell, chances are it's a cold."
Hospital measures and local rates
However, McCabe warned of the unpredictability of the winter illness season, saying the picture "can change quickly" and urged people to take up the vaccines that are available to them. The region's hospitals have also warned that respiratory viruses more broadly are leading to large numbers of people heading to hospital.
Two NHS trusts in the region - Gateshead Health and South Tyneside and Sunderland - have already brought in mask-wearing rules this autumn. These see staff mandated to wear facemasks in clinical areas while patients and visitors are encouraged to follow suit. This follows what the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust described as an 80% jump in respiratory illness-caused admissions from one week to the next in the days to October 23.
Area-by-area breakdown
On October 28, the seven-day average rate of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people in County Durham was 1.34, down from 5.37 a week earlier. In Gateshead, the rate was much higher at 10.71, though still reduced on a week earlier when it was 12.75.
In Newcastle, the rate was 9.39, slightly up on a week earlier when it was 8.05. North Tyneside's rate was 10.04, identical to that seen a year ago. Northumberland saw a rate of 6.53, more than half what was seen a week earlier when it was 13.06.
Further south, South Tyneside had a rate of 4.06, down from 11.49 on October 21. Sunderland, by comparison, had a rate of 3.65, down from 10.68.
