These are the latest Covid figures for Wakefield, Pontefract and Castleford as it is confirmed West Yorkshire will remain in Tier 3 restrictions over Christmas

The latest figures from NHS England suggest the rate of cases in the district has fallen to 134 per 100,000, below the national average of 221 per 100,000.

Across West Yorkshire, the rate of cases is 141 per 100,000.

88 year-old great-grandfather becomes first Wakefield person to get Covid vaccine

But despite the falling infections in the county, Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday confirmed that the highest level of Covid-19 restrictions, known as Tier 3: Very High, would remain in place through the Christmas period.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Hancock said: "I want to pay tribute to everyone who’s been doing the right thing and getting rates down, whether or not your area has come down a tier today. It’s so vital that everyone sticks at it and does the right thing, especially over this Christmas period.

"And it’s important to remember that this can be a silent disease.

"One in three people who has the disease has no symptoms but can still pass it on.

"Everyone therefore has a personal responsibility to play their part in keeping this pandemic under control.

"I know that other areas are so eager to move down tiers and the best thing we can all do is act with responsibility to get the virus under control."

Covid-19 in Wakefield: Interactive map shows the latest coronavirus case rates for every area of Wakefield and the Five Towns

Special rules for the Christmas period, which allow up to three households to form a bubble between December 23 and 28, will continue to apply.

But restrictions around meeting inside and the closures of pubs, restaurants, theatres and other leisure and hospitality venues will continue to apply.

There have been 14,889 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Wakefield since March, including 1,829 since the start of the month.

At least 646 people have died after testing positive for Covid-19 at hospitals run by the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, and a further 118 deaths have been recorded at the district's care homes.

According to Public Health England, the highest rate of infection in Yorkshire and the Humber is among those aged 30-44, and the lowest is among children aged 15 and under.