THE Covid infection rate in a rural area near York is now more than double the national average.

Public Health England said the rolling seven-day rate in the week to October 22 in Ouseburn, Hammerton & Tockwith was 1,110.2 per 100,000 population after a 61.2 per cent rise.

That compares with an average rate for the UK of 481.5 and for England of 484.1.

The Poppleton, Rufforth & Askham area#s rate was almost double the national average, at 934.9, while South Bank & Dringhouses’ rate was 856.6.

In contrast, the rate in Fulford Road & Clementhorpe area was only 165.6, the rate in Fulford, Heslington and the University of York was 194.3 and York city centre’s rate was 201.0.

The rate for the whole of the City of York Council area was 424.1, lower than the rate of 549.0 for North Yorkshire and of 436.5 in East Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, the number of Covid in-patients being treated at York and Scarborough hospitals stood yesterday at 74, four of whom were in intensive care.

That is close to the highest number of the current wave of the pandemic but still much fewer than the peak of 242 in January.

A total of 676 Covid patients have died at the two hospitals since the pandemic began, said NHS England.