HALTON has seen a sharp rise in coronavirus cases over the past week, according to new figures.

The figures, for the seven days to August 3, are based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government's testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).

The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.

In Halton it has increased from just 1.5 seven days ago to 9.3 according to figures published on Thursday.

There have been 12 new cases recorded in the past week compared to two in the previous seven days.

Data for the most recent three days (August 4-6) has been excluded as it is incomplete and likely to be revised.

In Blackburn with Darwen, the rate has fallen from 88.8 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to July 27 to 82.2 in the seven days to August 3. A total of 123 new cases have been recorded.

Oldham is in second place, where the seven-day rate has jumped from 55.7 to 67.9, with 161 new cases.

Pendle is third, where the rate has risen from 46.7 to 58.6, with 54 new cases.

The rate in Leicester continues to fall, down from 62.4 to 52.2, with 185 new cases.

Other areas recording notable week-on-week jumps include:
- Swindon (up from 30.6 to 47.7, with 106 new cases)
- Calderdale (up from 35.0 to 45.9, with 97 new cases)
- Manchester (up from 28.0 to 33.1, with 183 new cases)
- Preston (up from 20.3 to 32.8, with 47 new cases)
- Tameside (up from 16.8 to 29.6, with 67 new cases)