Rutland has gone more than a month without a Covid-related death.

Government figures also reveal England's smallest county recorded just two cases over the weekend.

Rutland has now recorded 61 people dying within 28 days of a positive test, which amounts to about one fatality for every 700 residents. This compares with an England average of one-in-500.

In the week to yesterday, government figures report 6 cases, which is half the level of the 12 recorded in the week to last Sunday, and 15 in the week to the previous Sunday.

This gives a 7-day infection rate of 15, which apart from 12.5 (5 cases) recorded on Thursday, is the lowest in many months. Earlier this year, the infection rate was in the 400s, fuelled by cases at HMP Stocken.

Rutland's 7-date rate is just over half the England average of 24.4 cases per 100,000.

Meanwhile, in Lincolnshire, the number of Covid-19 cases in South Kesteven over the weekend was just six, with the weekly infection rate dropping by a fifth over the past week.

The government's UK Covid-19 tracker recorded 6 cases over the weekend, compared with 8 over the weekend before.

The total number of recorded cases in South Kesteven since the pandemic is now 7520, which amounts about one for every 20 residents.

Some 41 people have tested positive with the virus in the district over the past week, compared with 54 in the week to last Sunday.

This gives a weekly infection rate of 28.8 cases per 100,000, which is just above the England average of 24.4.

The number of deaths remains at 266, as it has for nearly 4 weeks. This amounts to about one-in-600 residents.

Overall, there have been 337 coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire and eight COVID-related deaths over the past week — 10% fewer cases on the previous week, but an equal death toll.

The government's COVID-19 dashboard over Saturday and Sunday recorded 39 new cases in Lincolnshire, 41 in North Lincolnshire and six in North East Lincolnshire.

By April 25 (Sunday), three deaths had been registered in Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county. Fluctuations in data can occur for a variety of reasons including corrected data, misdiagnoses or wrong addresses.

NHS England reported no hospital deaths – leaving the tally at two, compared to three this time last week.

Over the weekend, national cases increased by 1712 to 4,404,882, while deaths rose 11 to 127,428.

Today (Monday), coronavirus vaccinations were opened up to 44-year-olds with two thirds of the previous age group, the 45 to 49-year-olds now having their first dose according to government figures.

Plans for the next age group, the 40 to 43-year-olds, will be announced in the coming days.

In other news, a television advert has been launched, encouraging under-50s to get vaccinated.