Number of Leicester coronavirus cases was TEN times higher than neighbours Nottingham days before city lockdown

LEICESTER had a coronavirus infection rate ten times that of nearby Nottingham in the run up to lockdown, official figures reveal.

The two east Midland cities are around 22 miles apart but their Covid-19 infection rates are dramatically different, the Public Health England (PHE) stats show.

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Leicester has seen surge in coronavirus infections over the last two weeks with 944 cases reported, leading it becoming the first city to put into local lockdown.

Restrictions due to be lifted on Saturday are being extended in Leicester for another two weeks while non-essential shops and schools have closed.

PHE has grouped infection rates to show cities nearest to Leicester.

Its data shows that from June 1 – 24, there were 420.6 cases per 100,000 in the city and a total of 1,490.

By contrast in Nottingham there were 44.5 per 1000,000 and 148 cases.

In Coventry, which is a similar distance away, there are a total of 71 cases and 19.1 per 100.

The report says other nearby local authorities “appear to have achieved better control of infection rates by June 2020 whereas rates in Leicester remain high”.

Meanwhile it emerged crisp maker Walkers has revealed 28 positive cases of Covid-19 at its factory in Leicester. 

The company - which employs 1,400 people across the site in the Beaumont Leys area of the city - said it had seen a “steady increase” in the number of confirmed cases during June.

The company claims the rise “coincides with the roll-out and uptake of testing”.

Walkers said its track and trace procedure indicated the transmission of the virus was “not in our factory” but instead the “situation reflects transmission in the community”.

PHE and Department of Health sources told Sky News they had highlighted 36 Covid hotspots in England where lockdowns could be "just days away".

Barnsley, Bradford, Rochdale, Bedford, Blackburn with Darwen, Kirklees, Oldham, Rotherham, Tameside and Peterborough are all showing worrying signs of infections rising.

All ten of the Midlands and Northern towns and districts now have more than 38 cases per 100,000 people.