The 7-day infection rate remains at low levels in Rutland, with just 7 deaths recorded nationally.

Rutland has yet to record a death this month and today it only recorded one case of Covid-19.

The 7-day infection rate in the county remains at 22.5 cases per 100,000, based on 9 cases, the same as yesterday.

A week ago, it was a 15, based on 6 cases, and 27.6 cases per 100,000 the week before based on 11 cases.

This compares with the England average of 21 cases per 100,000.

Unlike other days this week, no changes to the counting methods were reported.

Rutland now has 1679 cases recorded since the start of the pandemic- about one case for every 25 residents. This compares with the England average of almost one-in-15.

The number of deaths remains at 62- about one for every 600 residents..

The last death was recorded on the last Wednesday of April, the only death with Covid-19 recorded in Rutland during April and so far in May.

Meanwhile, in Lincolnshire, the 7-day Covid-19 infection rate for South Kesteven is back to its lowest level of the year.

The UK government Covid-19 tracker gives the district a weekly rate of 11.2 cases per 100,000 of population, based on 16 cases over the past week.

This is about half the 22.7 case rate recorded last Thursday and less than half the 26.7 recorded the week before.

The district recorded ten cases today, giving a grand total of 7610 since the start of the pandemic, equivalent to just over one case per 20 residents.

South Kesteven's 7-day infection rate is about half the England average of 21.2 cases per 100,000.

Whilst the figures fluctuate, the latest figures remain among the lowest since last year and less than a thirtieth of figures earlier in the year when the weekly rate exceeded 400 cases per 100,000.

The number of deaths has remained at 266 for more than 5 weeks now. This means that around one-in-600 residents have died within 28 days of a positive test since the pandemic started, which compares with an England average of one-in-500.

However, Thursday marked the first day in almost a fortnight with a coronavirus death recorded in Greater Lincolnshire, as 50 new cases were reported.

The government's COVID-19 dashboard recorded 36 new cases in Lincolnshire, nine in North Lincolnshire and five in North East Lincolnshire.

One death was reported in Lincolnshire on Thursday. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.

NHS England has also reported one new local hospital death at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, as data is sourced both from the NHS and Gov UK.

National cases increased by 2,874 to 4,455,221, while deaths rose by seven to 127,701.

In national news, there are two NHS apps which have different functions, one for your general medical records and COVID vaccination status for travel — and the other for checking into venues for Test and Trace purposes.

Prince William has received his first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and thanked those involved in the UK's rollout "for everything you've done and continue to do".

The Duke of Cambridge shared an image on Twitter this morning of the moment he received the jab yesterday.

On Tuesday I received my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) May 20, 2021

Britons should "apply common sense" over whether or not they choose to fly to amber list countries, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says.

Since the ban on foreign holidays was lifted on Monday as part of the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, people have been able to enjoy quarantine-free travel to a dozen destinations on the government's green list.