THE county's infection rate is the highest it has been since the coronavirus pandemic began, according to the latest figures.

Worcestershire's infection rate in the week up to December 29 was 287.2 cases per 100,000 people.

Public Health England data only shows infection rates in Worcestershire from October 5 with the previous highest infection rate at 249.4 cases per 100,000 people on November 11.

Figures showed between 60 and 80 daily cases were recorded during the first 'peak' in April with figures in October reaching between 80 and 170 cases a day compared to daily highs of more than 500 at the end of December.

A total of 529 cases were recorded on December 29 and 419 cases were recorded on December 30 with daily cases in Worcestershire staying largely above 150 throughout the month and moving to 200-plus in the latest week of data available.

A total of 274 cases were recorded on December 27 and 245 cases were recorded in Worcestershire on December 28.

The highest infection rate in Worcestershire during November was 249.4 cases per 100,000 people in the week up to November 11 before falling to 84.9 cases per 100,000 people by December 5.

Worcestershire's infection rate then continued to increase again throughout December before reaching 287.2 cases per 100,000 people on December 29.

Worcester's infection rate in the week up to December 29 was 316 cases per 100,000 people.