The tier of Covid-19 restrictions in which Cumbria will be placed following the end of lockdown next Wednesday will be announced today.

The tiered system, comprising "medium", "high" and "very high", will return following the end of the national lockdown next week.

Prior to the beginning of lockdown last month, Carlisle and Barrow were placed in the second tier, "high", while the rest of Cumbria had remained in the first tier.

Cumbria's director of public health, Colin Cox, said he expects the whole of Cumbria to be placed in the same tier following the end of the lockdown.

Carlisle's rate of Covid-19 infections is currently noticeably higher than those seen in the rest of the county, and also exceeds infection rates most recently seen across the north west and across England.

The city's seven-day average rate of Covid-19 infections per 100,000 people for the week ending November 20 stands at 277.9, which exceeds the north west figure of 237.9, and significantly exceeds the England-wide figure of 218.4.