Rutland has reported a sharp rise in cases since the start of the New Year.

On New Year's Day, the county recorded 14 cases, putting it on 731 since the start of the pandemic.

In the three days since then, the county has recorded a further 63 cases, giving a grand total of 794.

This is equivalent to 1988.6 cases per 100,000 people, meaning almost one-in-500 people have reported a case of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic.

Over the past week, England's smallest county has recorded 88 cases, giving it a rate of 220.4 cases per 100,000 or one-in-500.

This rate compares with 182.8 cases per 100,000 last Wednesday and 105.2 cases per 100,000, the week prior to that.

Rutland's figures compare with a weekly infection rate of 384.8 for South Kesteven, which is now the highest 7-day rate of all the districts in Greater Lincolnshire.

The Greater Lincolnshire average is currently 249.2 cases per 100,000 of population, which is well below the England average of 518.5.

Rutland reported no new deaths today of people dying with Covid-19, something it hasn't for several days.

Nearby South Kesteven, which includes Stamford, recorded 129 cases today, giving it a grand total of 4322 cases since the start of the pandemic.

This amounts to almost one in 30 of its residents have been recorded as having suffered with the virus.

Today's number of cases gives South Kesteven a 7-day rate of 384.8 cases per 100,000, based on the 548 cases recorded in the district over the past week.

However, deaths in South Kesteven today remained at 132, equivalent to one in a thousand for each of its residents since the pandemic started.

Today, Greater Lincolnshire recorded 501 new coronavirus cases and five COVID-related deaths.

The government's COVID-19 dashboard recorded 407 new cases in Lincolnshire, 54 in North Lincolnshire and 40 in North East Lincolnshire.

On Monday, national cases increased by 58,784 to 2,713,563 – the highest daily case number ever recorded – while deaths rose by 407 to 75,431.

The Prime Minster Boris Johnson is preparing to address the nation tonight at 8pm over what further steps need to be taken.

Earlier today he said there is "no question" the government will announce stricter measures "in due course" in a bid to control the spread of coronavirus.

The PM added there are "tough" weeks ahead for the UK in its fight against coronavirus.

Scotland has been told today by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to stay at home in a new lockdown.

Most of England's primary schools have reopened on Monday but unions have claimed that a full reopening of schools in England could put teachers at "serious risk" of falling ill with coronavirus and could "fuel" the pandemic.