The two regions with the highest rates across the UK are also in Wales – Merthyr Tydfil ranks first with 1,269.8 cases per 100,000 people while Bridgend ranks second with 1,145.9 per 100,000 people.

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Monmouthshire ranks lower on the table, at 468.3 cases per 100,000 people.

Wales as a whole has the highest rate of the four United Kingdom countries, with 3,975.1 cases per 100,000 people. Scotland ranks second, at 2,069.3 per 100,000, followed by Northern Ireland at 3,300.3. England recorded the lowest rate, with 3,149.3 cases per 100,000 people.

Here are the top 15 UK regions according to the UK government, covering the week through Wednesday 16 December:

• Merthyr Tydfil: 1,269.8 per 100,000 – 766 cases in the past week
• Bridgend: 1,145.9 per 100,000 – 1,685 cases last week
• Thurrock: 1,061.1 per 100,000 – 1,850 cases last week
• Hovering: 1,036 per 100,000 – 2,689 cases last week
• Blaenau Gwent: 1,013.4 per 100,000 – 708 cases in the past week
• Neathport Talbot: 992.2 per 100,000 – 1,422 cases last week
• Medway: 991.5 per 100,000 – 2,762 cases last week
• Newport: 911.6 per 100,000 – 1,410 cases last week
• Redbridge: 896.1 per 100,000 – 2,735 cases last week
• Caerphilly: 863.7 per 100,000 – 1,564 cases last week
• Rhondda Cynon Taf: 840.6 per 100,000 – 2,028 cases in the last week
• Barking and Dagenham: 839.3 per 100,000 – 1,787 cases last week
• Turphine: 831.2 per 100,000 – 781 cases in the past week
• Swansea: 781 per 100,000 – 1,929 cases last week
• Carmarthenshire: 742.2 per 100,000 – 1,401 cases last week