FOLLOWING yesterday's announcement on changes to Covid-19 restriction tiers, a large area of the country has joined Bradford in Tier 3, but how do their infection rates compare?

Bradford has been in Tier 3 since December 2 when the second national lockdown ended, while these other areas enjoyed more freedom in Tiers 1 and 2, with pubs and restaurants able to open and more household mixing permitted.

But following rising infection numbers in these areas they have now been moved up to Tier 3, the second highest level of restrictions in the Government's tiered system.

Only the Isles of Scilly remain in Tier 1, there are no areas in Tier 2, and three quarters of England's population are now in the strictest Tier 4.

The Covid-19 infection rate in Bradford is currently 166.9 infections per 100,000 people, in the seven days to December 25. The West Yorkshire figure is slightly higher at 168.4, due to Leeds having a worse rate of 181.7.

But how does this rate compare to other areas of the country now in Tier 3?

These are the areas with a higher infection rate than Bradford:

  • York - 235 infections per 100,000 people
  • The Wirral - 213.6
  • Worcestershire - 200.6
  • Halton - 200.1
  • Liverpool - 193.6
  • St Helens - 185
  • Knowsley - 184.3
  • Rutland - 182.8
  • Herefordshire - 182.6
  • Sefton - 178.4
  • Plymouth - 175.1

These are the areas with a lower infection rate than Bradford:

  • Torbay - 55.8
  • Cornwall - 96.9
  • Shropshire - 98.4
  • Dorset - 119.2
  • Devon - 130.9
  • Telford & Wrekin - 141.2
  • Wiltshire - 146
  • Bath & North East Somerset - 149.5
  • North Yorkshire - 166.5

These areas, including Bradford and the rest of West Yorkshire, will remain in Tier 3 until the next review on January 13 when they could be moved up, down or stay the same.