For the first time in four weeks, the Board of Deputies has recorded fatalities from coronavirus within the Jewish community.

Three Jewish funerals took place last week where the death certificate registered Covid-19 as a cause.

It brings to 513 the number of British Jews who have died from the virus since the start of the pandemic.

The Board said the figure represented the highest number of Jewish fatalities from Covid-19 in a single week since the week ending June 19.

Its figures are based on information from most of the country’s Jewish burial societies.

Infection rates in council areas with some of the biggest Jewish populations have risen sharply in recent days.

The number of positive tests climbed to 158 per 100,000 people in Salford in the week ending September 26, compared to 129 the previous week; and to 137 from 106 per 100,000 in Gateshead.

Barnet recorded a rise from 16 to 36 per 100,000. In Hackney, the number was up from 20 to 39 per 100,000.

However, the rate of infections fell in Hertsmere from 37 to 28 per 100,000 (the average for English boroughs).

Stricter social distancing rules in parts of the North-West and North-East mean that households in Gateshead and Salford currently cannot mix.

Representatives of the Jewish community in Gateshead were meeting council officials on Wednesday to discuss whether a marquee could continue to be used for davening over the festivals.