BRIGHTON and Hove now has one of the lowest coronavirus rates in Britain.

Cases in the city have fallen dramatically in the last week after the public health chief warned the virus was at risk of "spreading out of control".

However, Brighton and Hove now has rate of 90.8 infections for every 100,000 people according to the latest data available on the government's website.

Out of a total of 214 upper tier authorities in the UK, Brighton and Hove now has the 26th lowest rate.

That is compared to last week, where the director of public health warned the city had an equivalent to a weekly rate of new cases of 178.4.

The Argus:

That was a 46 per cent increase on the previous week and is equivalent but lower to the then-rate for England which was 272.9 per 100,000.

The rate for England is now 218.4.

READ MORE >> Brighton and Hove to go into Tier 2 of coronavirus restrictions

The health chief warned as the time that there was a "significant" 57 per cent increase in cases among adults aged between 40-59 and a 50 per cent rise in the 60+ age group.

The dramatic fall in local rates comes as the government announced that Brighton and Hove is to be placed in Tier 2 of the government's coronavirus alert system.

READ MORE >> LIVE updates as Brighton placed into Tier 2 restrictions

As a result of being placed on "high alert", people in the city will not be able to mix with other households in any indoor setting.

Businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a covid-secure manner, other than those which remain closed by law, such as nightclubs.