AS the town continues to face restrictions of the third national lockdown, we have rounded up the latest case numbers to show the worst affected areas in Reading.

A spread of different colours a few months ago, the Government's Covid-19 map now shows almost the whole of Reading as a sea of purple, indicating that the rolling rate for each postcode is above 400, with most postcode areas around the 650 mark.

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The most severe locations are represented in the map in a darker purple, which show places with a rate of above 800.

The map's latest figures show the seven-day rolling rate up to January 12.

These are the eight areas in the town which are currently shown as a dark purple, severely high-case location:

Norcot North

Total: 100 cases during the week

Difference: Increase of 43 from previous week

Rate: 1254.2

Norcot South

Total: 113 cases during the week

Difference: Increase of 30 from previous week

Rate: 1238.5

Battle and Caversham Bridge

Total: 96 cases during the week

Difference: Increase of 36 from previous week

Rate: 942.5

Coley Park

Total: 71 cases during the week

Difference: Increase of 6 from previous week

Rate: 816.4

Reading Chronicle: Covid mapCovid map

Southcote

Total: 109 cases during the week

Difference: Increase of 7 from previous week

Rate: 1261.4

Kennet Island and Green Park

Total: 100 cases during the week

Difference: Decrease of 28 from previous week

Rate: 880.1

Whitley Wood

Total: 79 cases during the week

Difference: Decrease of 10 from previous week

Rate: 1,109.2

Palmer Park

Total: 101 cases during the week

Difference: Increase of 37 from previous week

Rate: 955.4

Seven–day rates are expressed per 100,000 population and are calculated by dividing the seven day count by the area population and multiplying by 100,000.

To view the map and check your address, click here.

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Meanwhile, officials have said that lockdown restrictions could be lifted from early March, with a return to the tier system for controlling Covid-19, the vaccines minister has said.

Nadhim Zahawi said that once millions of the most vulnerable are vaccinated with a first dose by the middle of February, it takes just a few weeks for their immune response to kick in and offer protection.

It comes as the total number of people to receive a first vaccine dose in England, Wales, Scotland reached 3.94 million.

The Government is currently on track to vaccinate 15 million people across the UK by mid-February, including health and social care staff, the elderly and people in care homes.