CORONAVIRUS cases across the Malvern Hills are on the decline.

Areas with infection rates between 400 and 799 cases per 100,000 people are placed in the third highest purple 'hotspot' category on Public Health England's (PHE) coronavirus map, and due to the falls the majority of the Malvern Hills area has now dropped into this category.

A week ago the majority of the area was in the second highest dark purple category, where infection rates are above 800 cases per 100,000 people.

Malvern Hills overall now has a case rate of 681 per 100,000 people in the seven days to January 14 with 541 cases - a 39.2 per cent drop.

In comparison a week ago Malvern Hills had a case rate of 1,116.5 per 100,000 people in the seven days to January 7.

The current infection rates are:

Malvern Link, which had an infection rate of 805.6 per 100,000 in the seven days to January 14, cases falling 20 per cent.

Malvern Wells and Priory which had an infection rate of 549.7 per 100,000, cases falling 36.4 per cent.

Colletts Green, Callow End and Hanley which had an infection rate of 613.8 per 100,000, cases falling 36.4 per cent.

North Malvern, which had an infection rate of 653.1 per 100,000, cases falling 29.6 per cent.

Malvern Pickersleigh which had an infection rate of 837.6 per 100,000, cases falling 35.7 per cent.

Broadheath, Sinton and Alfrick which had an infection rate of 503.6 per 100,000, cases falling 53.7 per cent.

Kempsey and Ryall, which had an infection rate of 654.6 per 100,000 in the week to January 14, cases falling 55.7 per cent.

Upton-upon-Severn, Welland & Eldersfield which had an infection rate of 772.8 per 100,000, cases falling 32.5 per cent.

Barnard's Green which had an infection rate of 766.7 per 100,000, cases falling 27.3 per cent.