Some parts of Sutton Coldfield are ‘off the scale’ according to a new measure introduced to track the rise of the COVID-19 omicron virus, with the latest figures showing cases approaching 2,000 per 100,000 of population.

The figures are up to December 31 and are now likely to be much higher, with the Royal Town particularly badly hit.

A new scale has been added by Public Health England (PHE) which shows where case rates are above 1,600 per 100,000 of population.

Previously the top line figure had been 800 per 100,000 of population.

But with the new variant surging throughout the country, the latest figures this week show Boldmere at a huge 1,985, one of the highest across the West Midlands.

Other parts of Sutton don’t far much better with Walmley showing 1,858, Four Oaks, 1,889, Rectory Park and New Hall at 1,803 and Little Sutton and Roughley at 1,649 per 100k of population.

Case rates are shown per 100,000 people for the 7-day period ending on the date shown. They are calculated by dividing the seven-day total by the area population and multiplying by 100,000.

This makes it easier to compare cases across areas of different population size.

The population used is the mid-2020 population estimate from the Office for National Statistics.