Omicron is in retreat but cases are still rising in 174 areas – is YOURS on the hotspot list?

 CASES of the Omicron variant are in retreat in the UK, but infections are still rising in 174 places and this interactive map reveals if your area is a hotspot.

Infections have fallen 37 per cent in a fortnight, with the number of patients requiring ventilation also falling.

Yesterday a further 88,447 Covid cases were recorded, down from 142,000 cases a fortnight ago.

Data up to the seven days to January 20 infection rates fell in 205 areas and the map above shows the current infection rates in each local authority.

While cases are still rising in 174 areas, most people who now catch Omicron say they experience a more cold-like illness.

A string of hugely positive studies show Omicron is milder than other strains in the vaccinated, with the first official UK report revealing the risk of hospitalisation is 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta.

Covid booster jabs protect against Omicron and offer the best chance to get through the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.

The Sun's Jabs Army campaign is still helping to get life-saving jabs into the arms of Brits.Boris Johnson told the Commons last week coronavirus cases and hospitalisations are falling and "our scientists believe it is likely the Omicron wave has now peaked nationally".

He declared: "Because of the extraordinary booster campaign, together with the way the public have responded to the Plan B measures, we can return to Plan A in England and allow Plan B regulations to expire."

🔵 Follow our Covid live blog for all the latest updates

A World Health Organisation chief also said the Covid pandemic may reach its “endgame” once Omicron subsides.

The remaining restrictions are set to end later this week, but there are still some areas that a battling a surge in cases.

Newry, Mourne & Down in Northern Ireland has the highest rate in the UK, with 3,451 new cases in the seven days to January 20 - the equivalent of 1,899.6 per 100,000 people.

This is up from a rate of 1,411.9 for the seven days to January 13.

Peterborough has the second highest rate, up from 1,423.3 to 1,740.6, with 3,527 new cases.

Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon in Northern Ireland has the third highest rate, up from 1,232.8 to 1,694.5, with 3,681 new cases.

The 174 places where Covid cases are still rising

The figure on the LEFT shows cases per 100,000 in the seven days up to January 13. The figure on the RIGHT shows infections, also per 100,000, in the seven days up to January 20.

1. Newry Mourne and Down, Northern Ireland, 1899.6, (3451), 1411.9, (2565)
2. Peterborough, Eastern England, 1740.6, (3527), 1423.3, (2884)
3. Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon, Northern Ireland, 1694.5, (3681), 1232.8, (2678)
4. Telford and Wrekin, West Midlands, 1586.7, (2877), 1323.6, (2400)
5. Mid Ulster, Northern Ireland, 1569.6, (2338), 1357.5, (2022)
6. Antrim and Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland, 1533.2, (2204), 1136.6, (1634)
7. Lisburn and Castlereagh, Northern Ireland, 1525.4, (2234), 1039.9, (1523)
8. Bedford, Eastern England, 1488.9, (2601), 1172.4, (2048)
9. Mid and East Antrim, Northern Ireland, 1473.7, (2055), 1088.6, (1518)
10. Northampton, East Midlands, 1468.6, (3294), 1208.3, (2710)
11. Cambridge, Eastern England, 1441.7, (1803), 1145.8, (1433)
12. East Staffordshire, West Midlands, 1411.6, (1707), 1176.8, (1423)
13. Watford, Eastern England, 1406.5, (1359), 1230.6, (1189)
14. Woking, South-east England, 1405.9, (1406), 1054.9, (1055)
15. Reading, South-east England, 1394.6, (2236), 1211.8, (1943)
16. Corby, East Midlands, 1386.7, (1013), 1273.0, (930)
17. Ards and North Down, Northern Ireland, 1372.4, (2224), 983.0, (1593)
18. Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1329.1, (4553), 1160.4, (3975)
19. Luton, Eastern England, 1328.2, (2836), 1231.7, (2630)
20. Oxford, South-east England, 1314.1, (1992), 1077.3, (1633)
21. Wokingham, South-east England, 1312.5, (2283), 989.4, (1721)
22. Milton Keynes, South-east England, 1306.1, (3529), 1276.4, (3449)
23. Rushmoor, South-east England, 1296.8, (1224), 1197.2, (1130)
24. Slough, South-east England, 1277.6, (1911), 1237.5, (1851)
25. Fenland, Eastern England, 1269.6, (1296), 977.7, (998)
26. Basingstoke and Deane, South-east England, 1267.4, (2253), 974.3, (1732)
27. South Cambridgeshire, Eastern England, 1255.4, (2020), 896.2, (1442)
28. Oadby and Wigston, East Midlands, 1249.3, (716), 1066.1, (611)
29. Wellingborough, East Midlands, 1245.0, (997), 1035.2, (829)
30. Torbay, South-west England, 1241.4, (1691), 1063.0, (1448)
31. South Holland, East Midlands, 1236.2, (1185), 971.2, (931)
32. Eastbourne, South-east England, 1232.0, (1273), 1010.4, (1044)
33. West Oxfordshire, South-east England, 1210.7, (1353), 863.5, (965)
34. Stoke-on-Trent, West Midlands, 1210.3, (3106), 1207.6, (3099)
35. Swindon, South-west England, 1198.8, (2672), 1130.2, (2519)
36. Kettering, East Midlands, 1196.5, (1223), 1036.1, (1059)
37. Hertsmere, Eastern England, 1190.8, (1256), 1072.3, (1131)
38. Windsor and Maidenhead, South-east England, 1189.2, (1799), 963.8, (1458)
39. East Cambridgeshire, Eastern England, 1188.8, (1072), 747.5, (674)
40. Winchester, South-east England, 1180.1, (1486), 785.4, (989)
41. Lincoln, East Midlands, 1173.4, (1174), 1040.5, (1041)
42. Bracknell Forest, South-east England, 1171.0, (1454), 1101.0, (1367)
43. Spelthorne, South-east England, 1169.5, (1168), 1000.3, (999)
44. Broadland, Eastern England, 1162.7, (1534), 877.0, (1157)
45. Rutland, East Midlands, 1158.7, (469), 869.7, (352)
46. Three Rivers, Eastern England, 1152.5, (1083), 940.8, (884)
47. Waverley, South-east England, 1151.3, (1457), 865.2, (1095)
48. Cherwell, South-east England, 1150.5, (1747), 1033.3, (1569)
49. Warwick, West Midlands, 1149.0, (1665), 944.0, (1368)
50. Worcester, West Midlands, 1143.0, (1146), 1137.0, (1140)
51. King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Eastern England, 1137.2, (1720), 886.6, (1341)
52. Surrey Heath, South-east England, 1136.7, (1014), 955.1, (852)
53. Solihull, West Midlands, 1121.9, (2440), 1030.9, (2242)
54. Melton, East Midlands, 1120.8, (576), 947.6, (487)
55. Vale of White Horse, South-east England, 1115.2, (1538), 932.5, (1286)
56. Buckinghamshire, South-east England, 1111.9, (6083), 905.8, (4955)
57. West Suffolk, Eastern England, 1095.9, (1943), 945.3, (1676)
58. Barnet, London, 1095.5, (4371), 1042.6, (4160)
59. Richmond upon Thames, London, 1091.6, (2163), 922.6, (1828)
60. Gloucester, South-west England, 1090.1, (1414), 1021.5, (1325)
61. Horsham, South-east England, 1089.5, (1585), 778.1, (1132)
62. Adur, South-east England, 1085.9, (697), 847.5, (544)
63. Bromsgrove, West Midlands, 1084.8, (1091), 1079.9, (1086)
64. Central Bedfordshire, Eastern England, 1084.0, (3188), 963.3, (2833)
65. Mid Sussex, South-east England, 1083.9, (1649), 882.1, (1342)
66. Crawley, South-east England, 1082.0, (1217), 1027.8, (1156)
67. Great Yarmouth, Eastern England, 1081.7, (1073), 1021.2, (1013)
68. Wychavon, West Midlands, 1078.7, (1414), 834.6, (1094)
69. Norwich, Eastern England, 1072.6, (1525), 927.0, (1318)
70. Runnymede, South-east England, 1071.7, (968), 979.8, (885)
71. Harborough, East Midlands, 1070.8, (1023), 978.7, (935)
72. Hambleton, Yorkshire & the Humber, 1070.4, (984), 1064.9, (979)
73. Southampton, South-east England, 1066.2, (2696), 900.5, (2277)
74. Ipswich, Eastern England, 1065.6, (1449), 994.3, (1352)
75. Elmbridge, South-east England, 1061.8, (1457), 945.2, (1297)
76. Plymouth, South-west England, 1053.5, (2769), 946.6, (2488)
77. Cheshire West and Chester, North-west England, 1050.5, (3612), 1038.9, (3572)
78. Tewkesbury, South-west England, 1050.5, (1015), 743.1, (718)
79. Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland, 1050.1, (1522), 937.6, (1359)
80. Boston, East Midlands, 1048.9, (743), 924.7, (655)
81. Test Valley, South-east England, 1039.6, (1322), 955.5, (1215)
82. Stratford-on-Avon, West Midlands, 1038.5, (1375), 903.3, (1196)
83. Dover, South-east England, 1034.5, (1226), 920.6, (1091)
84. Teignbridge, South-west England, 1032.3, (1394), 759.0, (1025)
85. East Northamptonshire, East Midlands, 1027.3, (977), 928.5, (883)
86. Huntingdonshire, Eastern England, 1026.9, (1838), 934.7, (1673)
87. Redditch, West Midlands, 1026.1, (878), 965.3, (826)
88. Daventry, East Midlands, 1023.6, (890), 978.7, (851)
89. Cheltenham, South-west England, 1017.7, (1181), 829.0, (962)
90. Lichfield, West Midlands, 1015.7, (1073), 988.3, (1044)
91. South Gloucestershire, South-west England, 1011.8, (2912), 918.3, (2643)
92. Eastleigh, South-east England, 1010.2, (1369), 801.4, (1086)
93. Exeter, South-west England, 1008.0, (1344), 849.8, (1133)
94. East Hampshire, South-east England, 1007.0, (1247), 829.3, (1027)
95. Kingston upon Thames, London, 1004.2, (1799), 897.6, (1608)
96. Worthing, South-east England, 999.8, (1107), 868.8, (962)
97. South Norfolk, Eastern England, 998.1, (1428), 792.6, (1134)
98. Blaby, East Midlands, 997.5, (1017), 989.7, (1009)
99. South Oxfordshire, South-east England, 996.0, (1432), 895.1, (1287)
100. Braintree, Eastern England, 993.5, (1521), 864.8, (1324)
101. Reigate and Banstead, South-east England, 993.0, (1482), 865.7, (1292)
102. North Somerset, South-west England, 991.8, (2138), 883.7, (1905)
103. Epsom and Ewell, South-east England, 985.1, (798), 906.1, (734)
104. Sedgemoor, South-west England, 981.0, (1211), 806.0, (995)
105. West Berkshire, South-east England, 980.7, (1554), 844.4, (1338)
106. Sutton, London, 979.3, (2034), 901.8, (1873)
107. Gosport, South-east England, 977.8, (828), 850.3, (720)
108. Charnwood, East Midlands, 971.3, (1830), 970.2, (1828)
109. North Kesteven, East Midlands, 968.3, (1144), 931.0, (1100)
110. St Albans, Eastern England, 967.7, (1445), 815.0, (1217)
111. Gravesham, South-east England, 959.9, (1026), 920.6, (984)
112. Herefordshire, West Midlands, 959.1, (1857), 788.2, (1526)
113. Tonbridge and Malling, South-east England, 955.7, (1267), 816.2, (1082)
114. West Lindsey, East Midlands, 955.4, (919), 940.9, (905)
115. Broxtowe, East Midlands, 952.7, (1092), 868.0, (995)
116. Mole Valley, South-east England, 948.1, (830), 806.4, (706)
117. Swale, South-east England, 944.9, (1427), 823.8, (1244)
118. Fareham, South-east England, 940.4, (1094), 790.8, (920)
119. Babergh, Eastern England, 940.3, (872), 789.3, (732)
120. Stevenage, Eastern England, 938.7, (827), 935.3, (824)
121. East Suffolk, Eastern England, 938.6, (2350), 853.9, (2138)
122. Rushcliffe, East Midlands, 930.7, (1130), 897.7, (1090)
123. Hastings, South-east England, 922.7, (854), 886.0, (820)
124. South Northamptonshire, East Midlands, 922.6, (881), 834.6, (797)
125. Brighton and Hove, South-east England, 916.6, (2674), 908.3, (2650)
126. Colchester, Eastern England, 914.3, (1803), 798.2, (1574)
127. Mid Devon, South-west England, 912.5, (760), 732.4, (610)
128. Shropshire, West Midlands, 911.5, (2966), 870.0, (2831)
129. North Norfolk, Eastern England, 910.9, (958), 717.9, (755)
130. Lewes, South-east England, 909.9, (942), 750.5, (777)
131. Ashford, South-east England, 908.3, (1190), 864.0, (1132)
132. Dacorum, Eastern England, 907.0, (1410), 869.1, (1351)
133. Basildon, Eastern England, 895.7, (1680), 854.7, (1603)
134. Arun, South-east England, 895.0, (1442), 692.6, (1116)
135. Havant, South-east England, 892.8, (1128), 779.6, (985)
136. Breckland, Eastern England, 889.2, (1256), 821.9, (1161)
137. Mid Suffolk, Eastern England, 883.1, (926), 790.6, (829)
138. Chichester, South-east England, 883.1, (1073), 723.4, (879)
139. Maidstone, South-east England, 879.1, (1522), 844.4, (1462)
140. Bromley, London, 878.4, (2923), 805.1, (2679)
141. Hart, South-east England, 872.9, (852), 748.9, (731)
142. East Devon, South-west England, 868.4, (1286), 648.3, (960)
143. South Hams, South-west England, 867.6, (763), 684.5, (602)
144. Torridge, South-west England, 867.3, (596), 774.2, (532)
145. Rother, South-east England, 865.4, (837), 674.1, (652)
146. Bath and North East Somerset, South-west England, 864.2, (1697), 807.7, (1586)
147. Wiltshire, South-west England, 859.6, (4333), 777.3, (3918)
148. Somerset West and Taunton, South-west England, 854.5, (1328), 812.0, (1262)
149. North Hertfordshire, Eastern England, 854.2, (1140), 742.5, (991)
150. Chelmsford, Eastern England, 851.0, (1528), 813.7, (1461)
151. Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole, South-west England, 846.9, (3362), 815.6, (3238)
152. Havering, London, 846.7, (2207), 838.3, (2185)
153. South Somerset, South-west England, 834.0, (1407), 765.9, (1292)
154. Sevenoaks, South-east England, 829.6, (1007), 700.2, (850)
155. Canterbury, South-east England, 820.3, (1368), 762.2, (1271)
156. Tandridge, South-east England, 816.6, (723), 768.0, (680)
157. Guildford, South-east England, 816.1, (1227), 781.5, (1175)
158. Maldon, Eastern England, 799.7, (523), 738.5, (483)
159. Stroud, South-west England, 797.3, (964), 714.6, (864)
160. Malvern Hills, West Midlands, 796.8, (633), 725.0, (576)
161. Wealden, South-east England, 788.4, (1283), 715.3, (1164)
162. Newport, Wales, 786.2, (1230), 660.3, (1033)
163. Tendring, Eastern England, 774.3, (1141), 680.7, (1003)
164. Dorset, South-west England, 744.6, (2828), 695.9, (2643)
165. New Forest, South-east England, 743.1, (1335), 730.9, (1313)
166. Mendip, South-west England, 741.3, (862), 719.8, (837)
167. Forest of Dean, South-west England, 740.5, (645), 715.2, (623)
168. West Devon, South-west England, 730.3, (410), 657.3, (369)
169. Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, South-west England, 729.6, (4199), 664.4, (3824)
170. Castle Point, Eastern England, 729.1, (660), 724.7, (656)
171. Cotswold, South-west England, 726.8, (656), 702.4, (634)
172. Rochford, Eastern England, 669.9, (587), 645.9, (566)
173. Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, 602.4, (364), 589.2, (356)
174. Argyll and Bute, Scotland, 440.1, (376), 430.8, (368)

Newport has the highest rate in Wales (786.2, up from 660.3); and Clackmannanshire has the highest rate in Scotland (629.8, down from 707.7).

Two of the most infected areas in the country are also part of the top five that have seen the biggest week-on-week rise and they are Newry, Mourne & Down and Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon.

Four of the five areas with the biggest jump in cases are in Northern Ireland.

Experts have however have said that Northern Ireland has passed its peak of Omicron infections.

Northern Ireland had previously closed night clubs due to worries surrounding the spread of Omicron.

But from January 26, nightclubs will be permitted to open once more and dancing and indoor standing events will also be able to resume.

Other areas in Northern Ireland that have seen a rise in cases include Lisburn & Castlereagh, where cases have jumped from 1,039 to 1,525.5.

They have also seen a steep increase in Antrim & Newtownabbey, climbing from 1,136.6 to 1,533.2.

The one place outside of Northern Ireland which has also seen a big jump in cases is East Cambridgeshire, where cases have jumped from 747.5 to 1,188.8.

The area where cases have risen have shifted since last week, where the majority of high cases had been concentrated in the North East.