The seven-day coronavirus infection rate has fallen sharply in Barnet, weeks after a stringent national lockdown was imposed.

The number of new Covid-19 cases in the borough was 553.7 per 100,000 people in the seven days to January 20, according to the latest data from Public Health England.

This is a 45 per cent drop on the 999 cases per 100,000 recorded in the week to January 8 and a 27 per cent fall compared to the previous seven days.

Despite the downward trend, Barnet’s rate was higher than the infection rate for the UK as a whole, which was 390.5 cases per 100,000 people.

Barnet has the 15th-highest infection rate in London, based on the most recent figures.

England was placed under a strict lockdown on January 5, which saw schools, non-essential retail, leisure and entertainment venues closed, while people were told they could only leave their homes for limited reasons.

The Government confirmed on Monday that the current lockdown arrangements will be reviewed on February 15.

Colindale was the worst affected part of the borough in the seven days to January 20 with 129 new Covid-19 cases, according to a Government map of ‘middle layer super output areas’.

Other areas with relatively high case numbers included Burnt Oak and Watling Park (87 cases), Grahame Park (83 cases) and Hendon Central (81 cases).

The area with the lowest number of cases was Muswell Hill North, with just 13. Fortis Green and Coldfall (17 cases) and Church End (23 cases) also had relatively low numbers.

The latest infection rate data is based on figures from Public Health England published on the Government’s online coronavirus dashboard. It is subject to slight variations, as the figures are continually revised.