THE CORONAVIRUS infection rate is significantly lower in the North-East than in the North-West, eliminating any fears of further local lockdowns throughout the North.

In Northumberland, the coronavirus infection rate is 2 per 100,000 people, according to Public Health England.

The health authority said there were five new cases in the week July 21-July 27, a decrease of two from the previous week. There have been 1,591 total confirmed cases of coronavirus in the county.

Elsewhere in the North-East, North Tyneside has an infection rate of 2, Gateshead 1 and Newcastle Upon Tyne 0. However Cumbria recorded 11 cases per 100,000 people in the last week.

Infection rate in Northern areas that have enforced a local lockdown:

Blackburn with Darwen - 87.3 (up from 81.2)

Oldham - 56.4 (up from 18.7)

Bradford - 47.3 (up from 42.6)

Trafford - 38.1 (up from 11.0)

Rochdale - 35.0 (down from 47.7)

Hyndburn - 32.2 (down from 39.6)

Pendle - 31.7 (up from 30.6)

Calderdale - 29.0 (up from 23.3)

Manchester - 23.2 (up from 14.2)