Just on case of Covid19 was recorded in Rutland yesterday, along with no deaths.

The figures came as the UK also recorded their 'best' data in months, including the lowest number of deaths since the autumn.

The single case puts Rutland on 1565 cases in total, meaning about one-in-25 of the population will have tested positive with the virus at some stage.

The 7-day infection rate however, rose slightly as the number of cases over past week increased from a recorded 29 to 31, giving a rate of 77.6 cases per 100,000.

This is just above the England average of 66 and less than a third the rate of two weeks ago when Rutland numbers 'spiked' due to a second outbreak at HMP Stocken, which responsible for more than half the cases in the county.

The number of deaths remains at 60 and is equivalent to about one-in-600 of the population, and better than the England average and is better than the England average of almost one-in-500 of the population dying with Covid-19 at some stage during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, in Lincolnshire, ten cases of Covid-19 were recorded in South Kesteven yesterday.

The number stabilises the district's 7-day case rate after a significant fall over the weekend.

South Kesteven now has 6906 recorded cases- equivalent to about one-in-20 of the population.

The number of deaths increased by two yesterday to 263- equivalent to about one-in-500 of the population.

In the week to today, some 84 cases have recorded in the district (up one on Sunday), giving a 7-day case rate of 59, which compares to the England average of 66.

Overall, there have been 122 new coronavirus cases and two COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Monday.

The government's COVID-dashboard on Monday recorded 67 new cases in Lincolnshire, 20 in North East Lincolnshire and 35 in North Lincolnshire.

Two COVID-related deaths were registered, with one in Lincolnshire and one in North East Lincolnshire. These include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.

National cases increased by 4,712 to 4,223,232 while deaths rose by 65 to 124,566, record lows since September 2020.

In other news, England's lockdown easing started on Monday, with children returning to school, care home residents being allowed to hold hands with a visitor, and two people from different households able to meet outdoors.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson earlier in the day said the "largest mass testing programme we have ever seen in this country" was taking place in England's schools.

Staff and pupils are now recommended to wear masks everywhere in school, including in the classroom.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a press conference, said it had been an "emotional day for millions of families up and down the country" and that there was an overwhelming "feeling of relief".

He said a "greater risk" would be keeping children out of school "a day longer".

He called the latest measures the "crucial first step" on the government's "cautious, but irreversible roadmap to freedom".

He noted that more than one third of the entire UK population has now been vaccinated and said that meant they could take the step "with caution".

People aged 56 to 59 in the East Midlands, including across Lincolnshire and Rutland, are being invited to book their life-saving coronavirus vaccination this week.