The rate of new coronavirus cases has increased across the four areas of Hertfordshire being raised to the highest level of restrictions, data shows.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced on Monday that Watford, Broxbourne, Hertsmere and Three Rivers along with Greater London and parts of Essex will face Tier 3 restrictions from Wednesday following “very sharp, exponential rises” in cases.

The latest Government figures show the four districts in Hertfordshire moving to Tier 3 all have infection rates of over 200 cases per 100,000 population – and that they have seen more than 2,000 new Covid-19 cases confirmed in December alone.

Broxbourne is the worst affected area in the county, recording an infection rate of 517.1 in the seven days to December 11, equivalent to 503 cases.

Watford passed an infection rate of 300 in the same period, recording a rate of 305.5 cases per 100,000 population.

Hertsmere saw a rate of 279.3 in the week to December 11, while Three Rivers’ was 215.4

Infection rates are climbing in all of Hertfordshire’s districts, although six for now will stay in Tier 2.

St Albans, Welwyn Hatfield, East Herts, North Herts, Stevenage and Dacorum will be involved in a Government Tier review on December 16.

Below you can see the latest infection rate for each area.

Where are the latest coronavirus hotspots?

A government interactive map shows the wards in Watford recording more than 30 cases in the seven days to December 10 include Holywell (32), West Watford (36) and Central Watford (31).

Stanborough, Cassiobury and Leggatts have all recorded more than 20 cases in the same period.

Bushey is by far the worse affected area in Hertsmere – Bushey Heath recorded 57 cases in the week to December 10, while Bushey Central saw 41 new cases.

Cases in Bushey North were also high, with 24 being recorded in the seven days to December 10.

Elstree and Aldenham recorded 21 cases in the period. Borehamwood Cowley Hill recorded 31 further cases, while the Hillside ward saw 28 new cases.

Meanwhile, Abbots Langley in Three Rivers has seen 20 cases in the seven days to December 10.

Other wards recording a high number of cases in the district include South Oxhey (14), Carpenders Park (16), Oxhey Hall and Hayling (18), Moor Park and Batchworth (17) and Croxley Green (15).

To see the government map click here

What is the advice residents are being given?

Hertfordshire County Council leader David Williams urged residents across the county to “stay disciplined and stick to the guidance if we are to improve the situation in Hertfordshire”.

He said: “In recent weeks we have been stressing the crucial importance of everyone in Hertfordshire following the rules and guidance around social contact and distancing, wearing face-coverings when required and washing your hands regularly.

“We must all now redouble these efforts, particularly as we all plan for how we will follow the rules over the Christmas and New Year period including, the ‘Christmas bubble’ guidance. We must all keep playing our part to help reduce the number of cases in the county, so we can ultimately work towards returning to the type of lives we enjoyed before the pandemic.”