PARTS of Evesham and Cotswold have coronavirus infections so high they are close to hitting a new highest "black" category on the Covid map.

Areas with infection rates above 800 cases per 100,000 people are placed in a dark purple category which was once the highest category on Public Health England's (PHE) coronavirus map.

But after Omicron hit, PHE added another category where case rates are more than 1,600 cases per 100,000 people, colouring that black on the interactive maps on the government's website.

The current infection rates show the areas that have the potential to enter this category:

Evesham East had an infection rate of 1,554.8 per 100,000 people, rising 23.6 per cent in the seven days to January 6.

Evesham North and Hampton had an infection rate of 1,452.2 per 100,000, rising 57.8 per cent in those seven days.

Evesham Central had an infection rate of 1,275.6 per 100,000, rising 34.4 per cent in those seven days.

Evesham South had an infection rate of 1,388.0 per 100,000, rising 21.4 per cent in that week.

Harvington, Offenham and Badsey had an infection rate of 1,242.4 per 100,000, rising 57.5 per cent.

Areas of nearby Worcester and Droitwich have already past the threshold, and turned black.

Elsewhere in the Cotswolds the rates are:

Bourton-on-the-Water and Vale that had an infection rate of 1,173.6 per 100,000 people, rising 25.3 per cent in the seven days to January 5.

Moreton and Stow-on-the-Wold that had an infection rate of 1,166.2 per 100,000, rising 37.8 per cent.

Winchcombe & Washbourne that had an infection rate of 1,173.2 per 100,000, rising 23.9 per cent.

Chipping Norton that had an infection rate of 919.4 per 100,000, dropping 31.2 per cent that week.

Willersey, Chipping Campden and Blockley that had an infection rate of 822.3 per 100,000, dropping 6.7 per cent.

Wychavon overall had an infection rate of 1,383.8 per 100,000 in the week up to January 6. In comparison, in the week up to October 14, the infection rate was 511.9 per 100,000.

Cotswold overall had an infection rate of 1,060.2 per 100,000 in the seven days. In comparison, in the week up to October 14, the infection rate was 378.9 per 100,000.