Covid cases so severe Government map has to add new colour – is your area on the hotspot list?

COVID cases have become so severe in parts of the UK a black colour has been added to the Government coronavirus map to reveal hotspots.

The worst case rate in Acre Lane, Lambeth, London, had a staggering 4,445.9 new cases per 100,000 people in the past seven days.

To use the interactive map and see how your home compares, click here.

For comparison, it's four times higher than the hardest-hit part of the North East - Stocksfield, Riding Mill & Corbridge with 1,038.30 cases per 100,000.

The interactive map, on the coronavirus dashboard, shades all the villages and towns of the UK depending on its infection rate.

Previously if your postcode was shaded dark purple it indicated the highest level of infection - 800 or more new cases per 100,000 in the past seven days.

However, from today, the colour black signifies 1600+ new cases per 100,000 people in seven days.

Dozens of areas have been shaded the ominous black due to surging case rates ahead of Christmas.

Today’s map is in stark contrast to the start of December, before the Omicron variant had taken hold, centred in London.

The capital has the worst case rates of the UK - and now hospitals are beginning to feel the impact.

The Omicron variant is more transmissible than any other strain of Covid seen before. It’s ability to dodge some immunity also means that it is able to spread faster in the population.

It highlights the importance of getting the booster Covid jab, which will give you optimal protection against the virus.

🔵 Read our Covid-19 live blog for the latest updates

The UK is today set to hit nearly 30million people boosted with a third dose – half of the population.

In England, more than two thirds of people aged 18 and over have now received their top up protection, including more than four in five of people aged 50 and over.

Volunteers are urged to sign up to The Sun's Jabs Army campaign to keep the boosteer rollout at a phenomenal pace.

Where are Covid rates worse?

There are pockets of severe Covid across the UK. But the most are centered in London.

The data behind the map reveals where cases are worst by “middle layer super output areas” - the most granular detail.

In London, the following had the worst case rate per 100,000 people on December 16, the most recent day available: 

1. Acre Lane 4,445.9
2. Clapham North 3,381.5
3. Clapham South 3,229.8
4. Tooting Bec Common 3,216.9
5. Tooting Bec East 3,206.4
6. Putney Town & Wandsworth Park 3,054.6
7. Summerstown 3,037.7
8. Poets' Corner & Brockwell Park 2,974.3
9. Brixton Hill East 2,956.1
10. Balham 2,937.2

In the East Midlands, the following had the worst case rate:

1. University Park, Lenton Abbey & Jubilee Campus 2,925.40
2. Lenton & Dunkirk 2,669.60
3. The Park & Castle 2,279.70
4. Brackley North 1,786.60
5. Loughborough - University 1,686.80
6. Beeston Town 1,531.50
7. City Centre & Trent Bridge 1,531.00
8. Navenby, Harmston & Brant Broughton 1,419.50
9. Loughborough Storer & Queen's Park 1,414.80
10. Radford 1,404.90

In the South East, the following had the worst case rate:

1. Islip, Arncott & Chesterton 2,915.90
2. South Wonston, Sutton Scotney & Micheldever 2,043.90
3. Arborfield & Garrison 1,928.90
4. Nork 1,867.90
5. Thame South 1,864.30
6. Onslow Village and University 1,849.10
7. Claygate 1,839.40
8. East Molesey 1,746.70
9. Hinchley Wood & Weston Green 1,725.20
10. Long Ditton 1,724.10

In the West Midlands, the following had the worst case rate:

1. Silverdale & Keele 2,059.00
2. Cannon Park & University 1,861.90
3. Little Sutton & Roughley 1,317.00
4. Newcastle Town 1,275.60
5. Newcastle West & Cross Heath 1,225.60
6. Hagley 1,184.10
7. Reddicap Heath 1,130.30
8. Walmley 1,110.30
9. Stirchley North & Selly Park 1,104.10
10. Sutton Coldfield North & Park 1,081.50

In the East of England, the following had the worst case rate:

1. Longacres 2,358.50
2. South Chafford 1,850.50
3. Bernards Heath 1,776.30
4. Loughton South 1,776.20
5. Takeley, Airport & Mountfitchet South 1,712.20
6. Marshalswick 1,698.10
7. Shenfield & Hutton Mount 1,662.70
8. Ingatestone & Mountnessing 1,644.30
9. Loughton North 1,634.80
10. Orsett, Bulphan & Hordon-on-the-Hill 1,631.90

In the North West, the following had the worst case rate:

1. City Centre North & Collyhurst 1,828.10
2. West Didsbury 1,670.30
3. Salford Central & University 1,653.40
4. New Islington & Miles Platting 1,605.30
5. Timperley South 1,602.60
6. Hulme Park & St George's 1,597.90
7. Withington East 1,540.90
8. Chorlton North 1,483.90
9. Chorlton South 1,416.90
10. Didsbury Village 1,406.10

In Yorkshire & the Humber, the following had the worst case rate:

1. Broomhill & Lower Crookesmoor 1,778.40
2. Springvale & Steel Bank 1,733.30
3. Broomhall 1,408.50
4. Boston Spa & Bramham 1,159.20
5. Horsforth South & Rawdon 1,140.20
6. Brincliffe & Sharrow Vale 1,125.50
7. Kingswood 1,105.00
8. Endcliffe & Ranmoor 1,089.50
9. Crookes 1,040.70
10. Hyde Park Corner & Woodhouse Cliff 998.40

In the South West, the following had the worst case rate:

1. Brislington 1,790.30
2. Clifton East 1,369.70
3. Jumpers Common & Fairmile 1,298.10
4. Cotham 1,292.00
5. Durrington & Bulford 1,261.70
6. Hotwells 1,210.90
7. Bishopsworth 1,206.00
8. Horfield 1,205.10
9. Redland & St Andrew's 1,176.70
10. Winton 1,158.50

In the North East, the following had the worst case rate:

1. Stocksfield, Riding Mill & Corbridge 1,038.30
2. Ponteland 1,010.40
3. Newton Aycliffe North 1,007.80
4. Longhorsley, Hepscott & Capheaton 961.00
5. Kingston Park & Dinnington 918.40
6. West Boldon 879.60
7. Esh Winning & Ushaw Moor 861.70
8. Tynemouth Priory 828.40
9. Durham City 823.50
10. Newton Aycliffe West 822.40

Restrictions pending

It comes as new data shows that daily cases of coronavirus have already hit over 100,000.

In an update to the government dashboard, charts and graphs reveal that 102,297 cases of Covid were diagnosed on December 15.

Meanwhile, 90,629 infections were reported - up 53 per cent on last week.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to make an announcement in the next 48 hours on further restrictions.

The PM is considering casting Britain back to the dark days of last spring's Step 2 curbs where pints were only allowed outdoors and indoor mixing was banned.

Time is running out for Mr Johnson to impose restrictions before Christmas Day as the Commons needs about two days' notice to be recalled from recess.

Instead the PM is understood to be mulling a post-festive squeeze as early as December 27 to bite down on Omicron before the New Year when hospitals will feel the strain.

But speaking today he hammered his core message for people to get boosted "to secure vital protection for yourselves, your loved ones and your communities."