Coronavirus cases continue to increase in some regions despite lockdown, a new study has found.

According to the COVID Symptom Study, there has been an increase in the East of England and especially The Midlands - both seeing numbers rising with R values of 1.1 and 1.0 respectively.

In Wales and Scotland, the number of daily new cases continues to decline with R values of 0.9 - with the overall UK R value around 1.0.

The North West and the North East and Yorkshire, both have R values of 0.9 with numbers still declining since their peak at the end of October.

However, in southern regions of England, cases are not declining despite lockdown restrictions, with R Values of 1 in South East, London and South West.
Wimbledon town centre the day before England's second national lockdown came into force (
Image:
Amer Ghazzal/REX/Shutterstock)

There are currently 34,279 daily new symptomatic cases of COVID in the UK on average over the two weeks up to 15 November.

This compares to 35,963 daily new symptomatic cases a week ago - although the rate of decline was found to have slowed down.

Tim Spector, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King's College London, said despite the slow in a decline of cases, the outlook for December could be hopeful and it is not likely hospital will be overwhelmed.
A graph shows the estimates rate of cases by age group across the UK (
Image:
ZOE)
People hit the shops after lockdown ends in Wales (
Image:
Rowan Griffiths)

Professor Spector said: "The reason we are now seeing an overall R value of 1.0 in England is because numbers are falling in the North, rising in the Midlands and East but staying flat in the South of England.

"The continued rise in the Midlands, despite national lockdown is concerning.

"This suggests an approach focused on improved compliance at regional, not national level, over a longer time frame is the best way forward.
Figures show there has been a slow down in the falling of cases (
Image:
ZOE)
A regional breakdown of cases throughout the UK (
Image:
ZOE)

"We need to keep cases low enough for us to function as a nation until vaccines arrive without further harmful lockdowns.

"The good news is that cases in the over 60s, that account for most NHS activity, are remaining low.

"According to the government hospital data, admissions have only gone up slowly and most parts of the NHS have spare capacity, so as we head into December, it looks like the hospitals won't be overwhelmed with COVID admissions."

Regional new cases per day

UK - 34,279

England - 29,160

Scotland - 2,900

Wales - 1,927

Northern Ireland - 292

South East - 3,914

East of England - 2,341

South West - 2,548

London - 4,319

Midlands - 7,790

North West - 3,965

North East and Yorkshire - 5,605