THE southern areas which will be placed under Tier 2 rules, despite having a higher Covid infection rate than in some parts of the North-East, has been revealed.

A number of areas across London, Essex and Bedfordshire with high rates have managed to escape the tightest set of restrictions, Tier 3.

The government yesterday confirmed the exact list of tiers for each council area, once the four-week national lockdown comes to an end on December 2.

SEE MORE: Every area in the North-East to be placed under Tier 3 restrictions next week

It was confirmed that the entire North-East region would see a blanket set of restrictions imposed, prompting anger and disapointment from council and hospitality members.

The restrictions in the North-East will mean pubs and restaurants will remain shut - while a ban on mixing with other households in 'any' and most outdoor settings will apply.

Last night, Hartlepool Council leader Shane Moore slammed the decision as he accused the government of offering southern England 'preferential treatment'.

Meanwhile Gary Forrest, Chairman of the High Street Group,which runs more than 20 bars, hotels and restaurants in the region, warned of the impact of yet further restrictions and stifling restrictions on the hospitality sector.

READ MORE: North-East council leader slams Tier 3 while saying London has been 'spared'

So we've looked at the latest Public Health England data, published on November 27, to identify how many areas - in Tier 2 restrictions - have a higher infection rate than in our region.

In our region, all council areas have continued to see a fall in the number of new Covid cases - in the seven days up to November 21 - based on the week previous.

The Covid infection rate in the region ,over this period, ranges between 241.3 and 387.6 cases per 100,000 people.

But the infection rate in those Southern areas, which have been placed under Tier 2 and have high infection rates, range between 264.4 and 341.7 per 100,000 people.

Here's the Covid infection rate in the Southern England areas:

Data is accurate at time of Public Health England data made available on November 27 - the data.

1. Basildon (Tier 2)

Number of cases this week: 517 (up 88 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 276.2 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 20.5 per cent

1. Havering (Tier 2)

Number of cases this week: 887 (down 81 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 341.7 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 8.4 per cent

1. Luton (Tier 2) 

Number of cases this week: 608 (down 13 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 285.4 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 2.1 per cent

1. Barking and Dagenham (Tier 2)

Number of cases this week: 563 (up 38 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 264.4 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 7.2 per cent

Here's how the Covid infection rate compares in the North-East:

The data is over the same time period - it is sorted in order of Covid infection rate.

1. Hartlepool (Tier 3)

Number of cases this week: 363 (down 204 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 387.6 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 36.0 per cent

2. Redcar and Cleveland (Tier 3)

Number of cases this week: 480 (down 190 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 350.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 28.4 per cent

3. South Tyneside (Tier 3)

Number of cases this week: 525 (down 102 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 347.7 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 16.3 per cent

4. Stockton (Tier 3)

Number of cases this week: 686 (down 230 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 347.6 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 25.1 per cent

5. Middlesbrough (Tier 3)

Number of cases this week: 462 (down 200 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 327.7 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 30.2 per cent

6. Newcastle (Tier 3)

Number of cases this week: 972 (down 388 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 321.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 28.5 per cent

7. Darlington (Tier 3)

Number of cases this week: 329 (down 28 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 308.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 7.8 per cent

8. Gateshead (Tier 3)

Number of cases this week: 587 (down 244 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 290.5 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 29.4 per cent

9. North Tyneside (Tier 3)

Number of cases this week: 598 (down 292 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 287.6 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 32.8 per cent

10. Sunderland (Tier 3)

Number of cases this week: 795 (down 354 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 286.3 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 30.8 per cent

11. County Durham (Tier 3)

Number of cases this week: 1,492 (down 611 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 281.5 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 29.1 per cent

12. Northumberland (Tier 3) 

Number of cases this week: 778cases (down 164 from week before)

Covid-19 infection rate: 241.3 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 17.4 per cent

What the government have said

Yesterday responding to criticism over the three-tier system, Downing Street refuted any suggestion that some London boroughs had recieved such treatment.

A spokesperson for the the Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We have based tiers on the criteria that we have set out.

“We have been clear on the criteria that we have based the tiering system on and you have got the written ministerial statement that explains the rationale for each area.”

A summary for the decision to place the North-East into Tier 3 was earlier posted online by the government.

When explaining the rationale behind placing the Tees Valley Combined Authority Area - which covers Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland - the government said cases still remained 'very high.'

The government said: "While case rates are now decreasing in all lower tier local authorities, they remain very high at 390 people per 100,000 across the region, with positivity also very high at 13.3 per cent.

"The case rate in over 60s remains very high at 292 per 100,000. NHS admissions in the area have remained high in November."