THE latest Covid-19 infection rate data shows how well Bradford is performing in combating the virus compared with the rest of England.

The Bradford district has the 18th lowest infection rate in England, standing at 270.7 infections per 100,000 people in the seven days to January 15, the most up to date reliable data.

The areas above the district are mainly rural areas and other parts of West Yorkshire. Virus transmission has tended to be lower in rural, more naturally isolated areas, while West Yorkshire has performed significantly better than the majority of the country in fighting the third wave of Covid-19.

There are around 150 areas classed as 'Upper Tier Local Authorities' in the Government's breakdown of figures, shows how well Bradford is doing to place 18th in the latest figures, with many parts of the South and North West still suffering from the exponential spread of Covid-19 they have seen in recent weeks.

The full Top 20 of best performing areas in England is: 

  1. North East Lincolnshire - 120.3 infections per 100,000 people
  2. North Lincolnshire - 145.1
  3. Devon - 189.1
  4. East Riding of Yorkshire - 196.7
  5. North Tyneside - 211.6
  6. Calderdale - 214.7
  7. The City of Kingston-upon-Hull - 229.4
  8. Wakefield - 230.5
  9. Barnsley - 234.1
  10. Sheffield - 235.6
  11. Rutland - 237.9
  12. Lincolnshire - 242.9
  13. Torbay - 245.8
  14. Northumberland - 253.1
  15. Gloucestershire - 255.9
  16. Kirklees - 256
  17. Rotherham - 270.1
  18. Bradford - 270.7
  19. Cornwall and Isles of Scilly - 278.8
  20. Newcastle-upon-Tyne - 281.7

The only part of West Yorkshire not in the top 20, Leeds, ranked 22nd with a rate of 291.2, while North Yorkshire placed 30th with a rate of 314.5. 

The worst affected areas are a mixture of Merseyside and London, with the three worst hit areas being: Knowsley with a rate of 1,135.5; Slough on 1,029.8; and Barking and Dagenham with 965.7.