THE city's infection rate is no longer the highest in Worcestershire after dropping slightly in the latest Covid figures.

Worcester's infection rate was 679.6 cases per 100,000 people in the week up to January 16.

Public Health England said a total of 688 cases had been recorded in the city in the week meaning the rate dropped by 12 per cent on the previous week's figures.

The rate had reached a peak of 815 cases per 100,000 people in the week up to January 8 - having more than tripled when compared to figures before Christmas.

The areas in Worcester with high infection rates were Ronkswood and Nunnery Wood which had a rate of 1,038.2 cases per 100,000 people in the same week followed by King George's Field at 878.4 cases per 100,000 people and Lyppard Grange with a rate of 829.3 cases per 100,000 people.

All three areas were included as 'very high' in Public Health England's coronavirus hotspot map.

The highest infection rate in Worcestershire is now in Redditch at 686.1 cases per 100,000 people.

A total of 585 cases were recorded in Redditch in the week up to January 16.

Worcestershire's infection rate in the week up to January 16 was 530.1 cases per 100,000 people with a total of 3,158 cases recorded in the week.

The county's rate fell by almost seven per cent on the previous week's figures.

The infection rate in Malvern Hills was 340.5 cases per 100,000 people.

A total of 268 cases were recorded in the week.

Wychavon's infection rate was 510.7 cases per 100,000 people in the week up to January 16 with 661 cases recorded in the week.

Bromsgrove's infection rate was 558.7 cases per 100,000 people in the same week.

A total of 558 cases were recorded.

Wyre Forest's infection rate was 392.9 cases per 100,000 people with 398 cases recorded.