Three more Salisbury areas have now been identified as hotspots as cases of coronavirus continue to rise.

It brings the total number of areas where case rates have soared to over 400 per 100,000 people to seven.

The figures are based on Public Health England data from the week ending on December 30.

They are available on the government coronavirus dashboard's interactive map, which breaks down infections in England into Middle Super Output Areas (MSOAs) - small areas with an average population of 7,200.

What does the map show?

The data is updated daily.

It shows the number of positive cases in each MSOA in England over a weekly period, any changes compared to the previous weekly period (whether cases have increased or decreased and by how much) and the rate of new cases per 100,000.

Areas where coronavirus rates have surpassed 400 are identified as hotspots - as are areas with rates over 800, though it is unusual to find areas with such a high rate.

In Salisbury, data from December 29 resulted in four areas being classed as hotspots. These are Great Wishford, Woodford Valley & Porton; Salisbury Town North & Milford; Churchfields; and East Harnham.

However, in the latest 24-hour period, more MSOAs have gone from blue to purple - the colours used to identify areas with rates lower and higher than 400.

The new areas classed as hotspots are: 

  • Salisbury Cathedral & Harnham (20 cases; +10 on previous week; rolling rate of 401.0)
  • Bishopsdown (30 cases; +9 on previous week; rolling rate of 449.1)
  • Downton & Morgan's Vale (39 cases; +29 on previous week; rolling rate of 485.7)

All other MSOAs in Salisbury reported increases in the weekly period shown. However, their rates remain below 400.