Rutland reported 24 cases of Covid-19 today, putting its 7-day rate at its highest in months,

Nationally, the UK saw 96 deaths, the highest in months, but Rutland continues to have been free of fatalities since April.

Today's 24 Rutland positive tests compares with 16 yesterday and 44 over the weekend. Last Tuesday saw 6 cases and there were 8 the Tuesday before.

Once again, no deaths were recorded.

After declining last week, the 7-day rate has turned strongly upwards and is now 248 cases per 100,000, compared with 235.4 yesterday and 202.9 on Sunday.

Last Tuesday, it stood at 190.3 and it was 180.3 the Tuesday before that.

Whilst the Rutland figure has fluctuated a little to reach 248 today, the England average has steadily risen in recent weeks and is almost double at 473.5 cases per 100,000. A week ago it was at 328.9 cases per 100,000.

However, there has been a large increase in testing recently, with 1.1 million tests on Monday and 7.2 million over the past week.

Rutland has now recorded 2066 cases recorded since the start of the pandemic- about one case for every 18 residents. This compares with the England average of about one-in-12.

The number of deaths remains at 65, the same as yesterday- about one for every 600 residents, which compares with the national average of one-in-500 residents.

The last recorded such death in England's smallest county was on Wednesday April 28. Before that it was Thursday March 25.

Meanwhile, in Lincolnshire, 64 recorded 'cases' have today pushed the 7-day case rate in South Kesteven to its highest in months- but fortunately it also remains months since the district recorded a fatality.

Nationally, however, the 96 deaths is the highest since March.

South Kesteven has gone almost 11 weeks without a death with Covid-19. The total remains at 270, with the last fatality related to the virus in the district being on Wednesday May 5.

The last fatality priority to that was Tuesday March 25, showing South Kesteven has experienced just two deaths with Covid-19 in more than 15 weeks.

However, the 7-day case rate in South Kesteven has continued rising, with it almost doubling over the past week.

The 64 positive tests today compares with 76 yesterday and 134 the weekend. Last Tuesday saw 60 recorded cases and 44 the Tuesday before that.

Overall, there have been 8842 cases in South Kesteven since the start of the pandemic- equivalent to about one for about 16 residents in the district.

The 7-day rate is now 300.5 cases per 100,000- meaning one-in-350 will have tested positive with the virus over the past week- compared 173.4 in the week to last Monday and 96.9 the Tuesday before.

Overall, today saw 626 cases of coronavirus and three COVID deaths in Greater Lincolnshire .

The government's COVID-19 dashboard on Tuesday reported 365 new cases in Lincolnshire, 185 in North East Lincolnshire and 76 in North Lincolnshire.

The number is nearly 10% lower than last Tuesday's 684 cases.

NHS England has reported no new deaths in hospital figures across the Greater Lincolnshire region.

However, government figures, which include deaths both inside and out of hospital as well as the deaths of Lincolnshire residents outside of the county, recorded two further deaths in Lincolnshire and one in North East Lincolnshire.

Nationally on Tuesday, cases increased by 46,558 to 5,519,602 while deaths rose by 96 to 128,823 – the highest number since March 24.

Nationally, Downing Street has said those who are "pinged" by the COVID app must self-isolate.

However, the app has always been voluntary to download and alerts are advisory.

It follows hundreds of thousands of pings being sent out over recent days, resulting in people self-isolating and missing work.

However, the government has ruled out a "critical workers" list and told employers they must apply for any exemptions to the rules.

Elsewhere, further revelations from the PM's former advisor have alleged Mr Johnson sent WhatsApp messages saying he no longer believed "all this NHS overwhelmed stuff."

In an interview with BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg to be aired Tuesday night, Dominic Cummings claimed Mr Johnson was reluctant to enact the second lockdown as most people dying were "essentially all over 80".