Rutland recorded just 4 cases of Covid-19 yesterday, maintaining its relatively low 7-day case rate.

After a small rise since last week's low of 11 cases in a week, since the weekend the number of cases recorded over 7 days has remained at 16.

The number comes amid a backdrop of a massive increase in testing nationally, including of children returning to school.

The county now has a 7-day rate of 40.1 cases per 100,000. This is well below the England average of a 7-day rate of 55.5 cases per 100,000, which has consistently declined.

The four cases recorded on Thursday now gives Rutland a grand total of 1607 cases- equivalent to one case for every 25 residents since the start of the pandemic.

No deaths were recorded and on Wednesday Rutland recorded its first death in three weeks.

The total of 61 since the start of the pandemic amounts to about one-in-700, which again is better than the England average of about one-in-500 residents.

Meanwhile, in Lincolnshire, South Kesteven yesterday recorded its first Covid-19 death in over a week.

The number increased by one to 265, the first death with Covid since last Wednesday.

This means that since the pandemic started there has been one death for about 600 residents.

South Kesteven on Thursday also recorded 28 cases, giving a grand total of 7214 cases. This amounts to about one recorded case for every 20 residents.

The 7 day case rate fell slightly as the number of cases over the past week fell from 122 on Wednesday to 120 on Thursday.

The 7-day rate of 84.3 compares with the England average of 55.5, which has consistently fallen, while the South Kesteven rate has fluctuated.

Overall, there have been 151 new coronavirus cases and one COVID-related death in Greater Lincolnshire on Thursday, down from 187 cases and three deaths this time last week.

The government's COVID-19 dashboard recorded 85 new cases in Lincolnshire, 44 in North Lincolnshire and 22 in North East Lincolnshire. Lincolnshire's cases have now surpassed 40,000 since the pandemic started.

On Thursday, one death was registered in North East Lincolnshire, -1 in Lincolnshire and -1 in North Lincolnshire. Fluctuations in data are usually due to some deaths in those areas being reallocated to other regions across the UK or a miscount. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.

National cases increased by 6,397 to 4,319,128, while deaths rose by 63 to 126,445.

The next phase of the Prime Minister's roadmap out of coronavirus lockdown comes into action on Monday, March 29, with groups of six allowed to meet outdoors again.

The national medical director for the NHS is urging any remaining over-50s to book in for their COVID-19 jab ahead of a vaccine slowdown from Monday.

Professor Stephen Powis has called on anyone who is eligible but has not yet received a first jab to book an appointment in the next few days.

The head of NHS England has recommended lowering the COVID emergency alert level because of reduced hospital admissions.

Chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said there are currently 4,000 patients being treated for coronavirus in hospitals – down from 34,000 in mid-January.

Pub goers could be asked to provide a vaccine certificate, Boris Johnson has told MPs, saying it "may be up to individual publicans".

A review is looking into whether people should have to prove they have been vaccinated, as lockdown measures ease.