The rising coronavirus cases in the UK have sparked concern amongst the general public and the country's most senior health experts, with maps showing the mounting crisis they face. The Government's own data presents a bleak picture for the country at large, but some regions stand out as most profoundly affected, with four-figure growth rates.

       Health officials continue to monitor the UK's surging cases every day, as some experts warn the Government could be forced to rollout their Plan B restrictions.

       These could include the use of vaccine passports at mass gatherings or larger venues, as well as the return of face masks in some settings.

       Boris Johnson has so far publicly resisted suggestions the UK needed to reinstate some Covid rules, while Number 10 has said there is “absolutely no plan” to introduce restrictions.

       Speaking in a coronavirus press conference on Wednesday, Health Secretary Sajid Javid once again ruled out mitigating measures. However many health professionals have advocated that ministers move England to Plan B.

       READ MORE: New Covid rules under Plan B - as leaked memo reveals UK edging closer

       This weekend it was revealed in a leaked memo that officials from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) had contacted local authorities on Friday to canvass their level of support for the “immediate rollout of the winter plan – plan B”.

       Labour's shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show today she thought Plan B needed to be implemented now but said: "I think the first thing is the Government have got to do more to make Plan A work.

       "If the scientists are saying work from home and masks, we should do that. So get A working better because the vaccination programme has been stalling, and introduce those parts of Plan B."

       Her comments this morning come as 17 local authorities have recorded more than 2,000 positive cases in the last seven days, including Wiltshire at the top of the scale with 4,634 cases, along with Dorset (2,201), North Somerset (2,119) and Caerphilly (2,051).

       According to the latest ONS data, the UK has an overall case rate of 476.3 per 100,000 population, but some regions have individual rates that far exceed this, some by more than twice.

       The ONS data has identified seven upper-tier local authorities that have four-figure rates.

       In those seven areas, the rate of positive Covid tests per 100,000 has climbed above 1,000 percent.

       The worst-affected area is in Wales, Blaenau Gwent, where the case rate has surged to 1,312 per 100,000. Swindon is worst off in England, with its case rate of 1,089.8.

       The seven areas with case rates in the four figures include:

       The data demonstrates which areas have the highest Covid rate, but this isn't always indicative of those with the most cases.

       For example, Blaenau Gwent's rate comes from 919 cases over the last week in a population of roughly 70,000.

       But Birmingham, with a much lower rate of 298 per 100,000, saw nearly four times more cases at 3,399.

       The reason behind the diminished rate is its significantly higher population of approximately 1.149 million.

       The same data identified the 10 counties with the highest number of cases as well, and includes: