These are the uni areas with the highest Covid rates in the entire country

Covid is back on campus. Students are having to self-isolate past the end of their tenancies, and entire friendship groups have been struck down.

But it’s not just what you’ve noticed among your friends: university areas dominate the list of local areas with the highest rates of Covid.

All five of the areas with the highest rates in the country are student areas, according to latest government stats.

Durham City, home to the city’s students, has by far the highest rate in the country – with 2169 cases per 100,000 people.

Hyde Park, Leeds’ student area, has the second highest rates in the country, with 1452 positive tests per 100,000 people.

North Jesmond in Newcastle, Coventry’s Cannon Park & University, and Birmingham’s Selly Oak round out the top five areas in the country by Covid rate.

The statistics are based on test samples taken on the 24th June – the most recently available data.

These are the 25 local areas in the country with the highest Covid rate per 100,000.

Those with an (*) are predominantly student areas.

Outside the top 25, other universities are reporting record Covid spikes. The University of Kent has reported its biggest ever outbreak, with over 60 students testing positive.

Cambridge’s asymptomatic testing programme recorded 109 positive cases last week – up from 17 the previous week. In that week it tested 6,099 students – giving a case rate of 1787 per 100,000. While government data is not directly comparable, this would give the university a rate below only Durham city centre.

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• Uni landlords are charging extra rent to self-isolating students who are unable to move out

• This is what could actually happen if you have to isolate past your tenancy end date

• Top unis are hiring investigators to deal with students accused of sexual assault

Featured image: SWNS