PEOPLE are being warned not be complacent over the Covid-19 threat as two neighbouring West Yorkshire districts feature in the top five places in England with the highest number of new cases.

Bradford ranks third - though has seen a drop in cases - while Kirklees is fourth and has seen a rise in the rate of infection in the past week. The figures are based on tests that have been carried out both in laboratories (pillar one of the Government’s testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).

The rate is expressed as the new number of new cases per 100,000 population. The lists are based on the latest Public Health England figures updated on July 8 on the Government’s coronavirus online dashboard. The first number shows the rate in the week to July, and, in brackets, the equivalent figure for the previous week ending June 28:

1. Leicester 124.7 (143.9)

2. Rochdale 33.2 (37.7)

3. Bradford 33.0 (49.1)

4. Kirklees 32.4 (27.6)

5. Oadby & Wigston 29.8 (56.1)

Rachel Spencer-Henshall, Strategic Director for Public Health at Kirklees Council said: “After a steady overall decline, the rate of infection in Kirklees has gone up over the past week and we cannot ignore this.

"This is a powerful warning that now is not the time to become complacent and our fight against Covid-19 is not over. Social distancing, hand washing and protecting the most vulnerable in our community are more important now than ever, particularly with the recent easing of lockdown measures.

“In the past few weeks, we’ve acted quickly and decisively to contain outbreaks in local workplaces. This kind of action always leads to more tests and positive cases in the short term which will contribute to our increase.”

Kirklees has been hit by two outbreaks in recent weeks - one at the Kober meat factory in Cleckheaton and another at DuraBeds in Batley. The Fox & Hounds pub in Batley also closed its doors after a customer reportedly tested positive for coronavirus.

Ms Spencer-Henshall added: “We will be analysing the data further over the next few days to learn more and if we need to adjust our action, we will do so. We are far from the levels of infection seen in Leicester but we have to take this increase seriously and we all have an equal role to play in getting the rates back down.”

Batley & Spen MP Tracy Brabin said the increase was “deeply concerning”.

“I have remained in close contact with local NHS services and Kirklees Council throughout and have been assured by Kirklees Council that they are working with Public Health England to tackle this,” she said and urged people to continue to follow Government guidance.

Bradford South MP Judith Cummins, whose constituency borders on to Kirklees, added: “This week in Parliament I called on the Government to take proactive steps to support areas with high infection rates so that a local lockdown does not become necessary. Councils need more money to tackle outbreaks and local people and businesses need to be supported throughout.

“I urge everyone to follow the guidance and maintain social distancing so that we can continue to see improvements in the spread of this dangerous virus.”

Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe welcomed the news of falling cases in Bradford, but said “we’re not out of the woods yet”.

“We simply cannot afford to let up,” she said.

“We must continue this hard work and I ask everyone to play their part especially as lockdown eases. We will continue to get the messages out there to our residents in a variety of ways and monitor the situation locally.

“I urge everyone to be sensible and remain alert to the dangers of coronavirus. Two metre social distancing remains of paramount importance in controlling the spread of the virus as does frequent hand washing.

"We must all act responsibly to protect our health and care services and importantly to keep ourselves and our friends and family safe.”

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Bradford is to select groups of people for asymptomatic testing who are deemed to be high-risk.

It’s part of a Government drive to test tens of thousands of people who work in high-risk jobs, such as taxi drivers, cleaners and shop keepers, even though they have no symptoms.

The Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which includes the Bradford Royal Infirmary, says it has seen a drop in the number of new admissions - but is warning people to stay vigilant.

Chief Nurse Karen Dawber said: “Even though we have seen a drop in the number of new admissions, our doctors and nurses are still caring for patients who have been admitted with Covid-19, so it is vital that everyone continues to do their part in fighting the spread of the virus.”

As of yesterday, the Trust was treating 31 Covid-19 patients, eight who are in intensive care.