The areas of England where Covid rates were on the rise have been revealed – and sparked debate among readers of The Mail.

The Press Association news agency compiled figures based on Public Health England data – with 103 areas across the country seeing a week-on-week rise in case numbers as lockdown restrictions eased.

Last week, the second stage of Boris Johnson’s ‘roadmap’ began and the concerning figures came as people were readying themselves to enjoy the first weekend since pub beer gardens reopened.

The figures are based on case numbers per 100,000 people.

Among the areas to experience a rise was Copeland.

Readers gave their opinions after seeing the news and being asked if they expected this to happen.

Graham Jeffers said: “No surprise – common sense would tell you that.”

Gail Yates said: “The more that get tested, the more positives.

“We either spend the rest of our lives under house arrest and destroy the economy and learn to live with increasingly less freedoms, or we just get on with it.”

Danny Roberts said: “They should be looking at hospital cases rather than just cases.”

Justine Slone said: “Pubs didn’t just open this week, so did the shops, hair salons, beauty salons, tan bed salons.

“Pubs always get the blame.”

Hannah Louise Forrester said: “Shops opened too, not just the pubs.

“What about all the queues for Primark and Debenhams?

“No social distancing in there, yet the pubs get the blame.”

Josie Fallows said: “This virus will never go away, just like the flu.

“Get used to it – but I can’t do another lockdown because they don’t help.”

Jacqueline Campbell said: “Only to be expected. Some people don’t care.”

Paul Lewis said: “There is a surprise. I mean, really, did we just expect no positive tests?”