Two areas in Surrey reported some of the highest rises in weekly infection rates for Covid-19 anywhere in the UK according to new data from Public Health England (PHE).

Data released on Friday (October 15) by the health authority showed that two regions in Surrey, Woking and Surrey Heath, were in the top five UK areas that showed the biggest increases in the number of positive Covid-19 cases confirmed in the seven days up to October 11.

The five UK areas with the biggest week-on-week rises including Woking, which was fourth. The infection rate of new cases per 100,000 people there jumped from 312.0 to 530.0 over the seven-day period.

Meanwhile Surrey Heath was fifth, leaping from 293.7 to 500 cases per 100,000 people.

Of the 377 local areas in the UK, 325 (86 per cent) have seen a week-on-week rise in rates of Covid-19 infection, 51 (14 per cent) have seen a fall and one is unchanged.

Surrey County Council continue to warn residents of the rising rates of Covid-19 in the county.

In the latest information on infection numbers posted by the council's news account on Twitter, a spokesperson said that the highest rates were "still in school aged children (12 – 15 years old)".

The government have meanwhile been pressed on the faltering of the vaccination programme among younger people, with fewer than 10 per cent of young teenagers jabbed in third of local areas in England.

Asked recently why there appeared to be problems in getting jabs into the arms of schoolchildren, a Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: "There are a number of different factors, there’s no one single issue that presents a challenge. As ever with Covid there are a number of challenges to overcome."

In response to anti-vaccination campaigners protesting outside schools, the spokesman added: "It is completely unacceptable for anyone to direct abuse or misinformation towards parents, teachers or indeed children... We also continue to do the work to provide reassurance to those who have questions – both children, schools and parents – on the vaccination programme. It’s important to emphasise this is something that health experts at a number of different levels, and indeed in a number of different countries, have looked at and have decided are completely safe for our children and provide important protection."

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