CONFIRMED cases of coronavirus in the Tyne Valley have fallen for the second consecutive day. 

According to Northumberland County Council, for the first time in several weeks the Haltwhistle ward had recorded less than 40 cases in the past week.

The district remains the worst affected part of Northumberland, but infections are falling down to levels seen in the South-East of the county.

A total of 728 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed across the county in the week up to January 10, giving an infection rate of 227.3 cases per 100,000 residents.

Hexham Courant: Coronavirus cases in Northumberland week ending January 10. Image: Northumberland County Council.Coronavirus cases in Northumberland week ending January 10. Image: Northumberland County Council.

Coronavirus case by council ward week ending Janaury 10 - Hexham constituency: 

Haltwhistle - 36

Hexham Central with Acomb - 28

South Tynedale - 22

Prudhoe South - 19

Hexham East - 18

Prudhoe North - 17

Humshaugh - 17

Corbridge - 16

Hexham West - 12

Stocksfield and Broomhaugh - 11

Ponteland North - 11

Haydon and Hadrian - 9

Bywell - 9

Ponteland West - 8

Bellingham - 8

According to Public Health England, there have now been 12,840 cases of COVID-19 have now been confirmed in Northumberland since the start of the pandemic.

NHS England's most recent data showed that no deaths from coronavirus were recorded at Northumbria Healthcare hospitals for the second day in a row yesterday.

Nationally, an additional 46,169 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed across the UK yesterday, bringing the total number of cases to 3,118,518. 

The UK death toll increased by 529 to 81,960.