THE county's coronavirus infection rate has doubled in the last week with the number of cases continuing to shoot up.

Worcestershire's infection rate was 399 cases per 100,000 people in the week up to January 1 - the highest it has ever been.

A total of 2,377 cases were recorded in the week according to Public Health England.

The infection rate on December 25 was 202.1 cases per 100,000 people.

This means the infection rate in Worcestershire has increased by 97.3 per cent in the last seven days.

Worcester's infection rate was 451.5 cases per 100,000 people during the same week with a total of 457 cases recorded.

This means the infection rate in Worcester has increased by 148.4 per cent in the last seven days.

The highest infection rate in Worcestershire was in Bromsgrove with 492.6 cases per 100,000 people recorded during the week.

Wychavon's infection rate was 346.1 cases per 100,000 people and the rate in Malvern Hills was 236.3 cases per 100,000 people - also the highest it has ever been in both districts.

The rate in Redditch was 441 cases per 100,000 people and the rate in Wyre Forest was 412.7 cases per 100,000 people.

Earlier this week, Dr. Kathryn Cobain, the director for Public Health for Worcestershire, blamed the "concerning" rise on people meeting up over Christmas.

The infection rate in Worcestershire on December 24 was 219.7 cases per 100,000 people.