Coronavirus infection rates are continuing to rise in most south east London boroughs as the new health secretary begins to prepare for the end of lockdown rules on July 19.

The latest statistics from Public Health England has revealed Lewisham and Southwark have become the first boroughs in the region to surpass 100 new cases per 100,000 people.

Cases have risen in even borough except from Bromley, which saw a slight fall, with the infection rates continue to creep up at a slow and steady pace.

The Covid-19 case rate figures are accurate for the seven days to June 24, and are based on the number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in either a lab-reported or rapid lateral flow test, by specimen date.

The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.

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And Southwark continues to lead the way in south east London, with its 159.3 cases per 100,000 in the last week one of the highest in London.

The borough has seen a large increase in its infection rate which was just 116.4 last week after 508 new cases were recorded this week.

Lewisham also now has over 100 cases per 100,000 people, with a Covid-19 rate of 106.3, up from 75.5 after 325 new cases.

In Greenwich, case rats have risen from 64.9 to 92.4 with 266 new Covid-19 cases.

Bexley currently has a rate of 72.1, up from 47.5 last week, with 179 new cases.

Bromley is the only borough to record a fall in infection rate, falling slightly from 62.6 to 60.2.

Nearby, Dartford has a rate of 63.9, Croydon 85.3 and Wandsworth a whopping 161.4.

The latest figures come as Matt Hancock has finally resigned following a CCTV scandal, with Sajid Javid coming in as the new health secretary.

He faces pressures from numerous sides over the already delayed unlocking of restrictions planned on July 19.

Nationally, of the 315 local areas in England, 291 (92%) have seen a rise in rates and 24 (8%) have seen a fall.

Hyndburn in Lancashire has the highest rate, with 444 new cases in the seven days to June 24, the equivalent of 547.9 cases per 100,000 people.

This is up from 484.9 in the seven days to June 17.

Blackburn with Darwen in Lancashire has the second highest rate, down up from 534.4 to 491.7, with 736 new cases.

Rossendale, also in Lancashire, has the third highest rate, up from 335.7 to 435.1, with 311 new cases.

The list has been calculated by the PA news agency based on Public Health England data published on June 28 on the Government's coronavirus dashboard.