These are the latest Covid case rates across England - and hospital numbers by region

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned that tougher lockdown measures will be announced for England “in due course”, amid concerns the new variant of coronavirus is spreading out of control.

Mr Johnson said there was “no question” restrictions need to be tightened, with suggestions another national lockdown could be imminent in an effort to curb the spread.

Rising Covid case rates across England

The PM warned of “tough, tough” weeks to come as Covid-19 case rates continue to rise across all parts of England, along with the number of hospital admissions.

The latest data shows a 33 per cent rise in the number of confirmed coronavirus patients in hospital in England between Christmas Day (25 Dec) and 2 January, prompting calls for national restrictions to be reimposed.

Here’s how Covid cases compare across the regions of England, along with the number of patients currently in hospital with the virus.

London

London has the highest regional rate of new Covid-19 cases in England, with the rate in the seven days up to 30 December at 934.3 cases per 100,000 people. This is up from 844.3 in the previous week, and 531.5 from just two weeks ago.

Of the top 25 highest local rates in England, 11 are in London, including Barking and Dagenham which has the highest rate overall at 1,402.5 cases per 100,000 people.

Hospitals in London also have a record number of patients with Covid11-19, with a total of 6,358 patients as of 8am on 3 January - more than double the number two weeks ago.

East England

Eastern England has the second highest regional rate of new Covid-19 cases at 683.7 per 100,000 people.

Six of the top 10 highest local rates in England are in this region, including Thurrock with a rate of 1,388.7, Epping Forest with a rate of 1,302.3 and Broxbourne with a rate of 1,292.2.

More patients with Covid-19 are in hospitals in eastern England than at any point since the pandemic began, with the number standing at 3,395 as of 8am on 3 January - a rise of 74 per cent in just two weeks.

South East England

Similar to London and eastern England, the south east has seen a sharp rise in case rates and a record number of patients in hospital.

The seven day rate currently stands at 609.2 cases per 100,000 people, up from 504.9 a week ago, and Dartford has the highest rate in the region at 1,143.8, followed by Gravesham at 1,094.1 and Rushmoor at 1,088.8.

A total of 4,501 patients with Covid-19 were in hospital as of 8am on 3 January, a rise of 27 per cent since last week and an increase of 76 per cent in two weeks.