THESE are the nine areas of the Bradford district with the worst Covid-19 infection rates in the past week.

Case numbers have been on the increase for the past few weeks in the district in line with the national average – as the Omicron variant of Coronavirus spreads.

While at its highest figure since October, Bradford has one of the lowest rates in the country; the figure is the seventh lowest in England at 335.9 infections per 100,000 people, with 1,821 new cases in the seven days to December 16.

Bradford has the second lowest rate in Yorkshire, behind only Scarborough (which has the lowest rate in the country).

However, while the district as a whole appears to be less affected by Covid-19 currently, some areas are worse hit than others, seeing high case numbers and infection rates.

Nine areas have an infection rate of more than 500, meaning more than one in 200 people in these areas have tested positive for Covid-19 in the past week.

The best way to protect yourself against Covid-19 is to get vaccinated and get your booster jab as soon as possible to give the best protection against suffering serious illness or death if you catch Covid, and also to limit its transmissibility if you do get it.

Areas are set out by Middle Super Output Area, a hyper-local way of measuring data covering areas with a population of about 7,200 people.

These are the nine areas of the Bradford district with the highest Covid-19 infection rates:

  • Burley-in-Wharfedale – 744.1 infections per 100,000 people
  • Ilkley & Ben Rhydding – 673.2
  • Addingham & Ilkley Moor – 672.6
  • Menston & Burley Moor – 600.2
  • Crossflatts & Eldwick – 593.1
  • Bingley North – 558.5
  • Shipley Town – 547.5
  • Bingley Town – 515.7
  • Cullingworth & Denholme – 510.5

At the other end of the scale, some areas are seeing low levels of infection.

These are the five Bradford areas with the lowest Covid-19 infection rates:

  • Holme Wood – 72.9 infections per 100,000 people
  • Shearbridge & University – 124.9
  • Barkerend East – 129.2
  • Clayton – 131.5
  • Bowling & East Bowling – 151.6

Some nearby areas – outside the Bradford district but within the area the Telegraph & Argus covers – are experiencing very high levels of infection too.

Pudsey and North West Leeds are particularly badly afflicted by Covid spread.

In Horsforth South & Rawdon the infection rate is 1,140.2, meaning more than one in 100 people living there tested positive for Covid last week.

In Farsley South, Stanningley & Pudsey North West the rate is 718,2, while in Drighlington & Gildersome West it sits at 698.5.

Other badly affected areas are: Guiseley North & West (676.4), Yeadon West (660.8), Calverley & Farsley North (650.6), Yeadon South (622.4), Yeadon East (613.2), Pudsey South East (581.7), Otley South (556.1), New Pudsey (502.6), Guiseley East and South (502.3).

Badly hit areas in the Spen Valley and Brighouse are: Birkenshaw (692.9), Gomersal (595.1), Scholes & Hunsworth (559.4), Rastrick West (515.8).

The badly hit areas in Skipton are: Carleton, Cowling & Cononley (713.6), Skipton South (669.8), Skipton North & Barden Fell (647.2), Sutton & Crosshills (631.0).