New coronavirus hotspots emerging in Yorkshire as Government unveils plans for 'local lockdowns'

With the number of new cases 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, north Wales, Lanarkshire in Scotland and Ards and North Down in Northern Ireland.

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

This was followed by Hull, Rotherham, East Riding of Yorkshire and Doncaster, which all saw a high number of new cases.

Lockdowns on towns seeing spikes in infection rates are set to be part of the ‘test and trace’ system being introduced in England on Thursday (May 28).

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.”

Calderdale recorded the lowest rate in Yorkshire of people testing positive for coronavirus, with just 7.6 new cases per 100,000 people.

Craven, Selby and Hambleton in North Yorkshire also saw a low number of new cases in the two weeks to May 23.

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