The coronavirus infection rate remained low in Barnet as the Government gave the go-ahead to a further stage of lockdown easing.

The rate was 16 new cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to May 6 – around two months after restrictions began to be lifted.

It is a minor increase on the figure of 14 cases per 100,000 seen during the previous seven days.

Speaking on Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed stage three of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown will go ahead as planned on May 17.

It means indoor mixing and overnight stays in groups of up to six people or two households will be allowed, while hotels and indoor entertainment venues can reopen.

The Government publishes a map showing cases in regions known as middle layer super output areas – parts of boroughs that have similar populations.

Updated daily, the map shows that in the seven days to May 6 most parts of Barnet saw fewer than three cases of Covid-19 – the lowest figure available.

Colindale was the worst-affected area, with six cases.

The following areas saw rates of between three and five cases: Burnt Oak, Grahame Park, West Hendon, Temple Fortune, East Finchley, Friern Barnet, Oakleigh Park.

The map is available at: https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map

According to the latest Barnet Council Covid-19 update, published on Tuesday, hospital admissions are now averaging less than one per day. The report adds that on May 4 there were 15 coronavirus patients in beds at the Royal Free Hospital, with five requiring mechanical ventilation.

There have been no new Covid-19 cases in care home residents since early March, the update reveals.

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 updated.

To protect individuals’ identities, exact numbers are not provided for areas with fewer than three cases of the virus.