Rutland has again reported a further decline in its seven day case rate, putting it well below the national average.

Figures released yesterday afternoon show the county recorded 17 cases over the past week, giving it a rate of 42.6 cases per 100,000.

This is well below the England average of 58.7.

Just one case of Covid-19 was recorded yesterday, giving the county a grand total of 1576 since the pandemic started.

This amounts to about one case for every 25 residents.

The number of deaths remained at 60, which amounts to about one-in-700 of the county's population.

This rate of 150.5 deaths per 100,000 is three-quarters the England average of 196.3.

Meanwhile, in Lincolnshire, the third week of March has started with 133 new cases and three new deaths

The government's COVID-19 dashboard on Monday recorded 63 new cases in Lincolnshire, 20 in North East Lincolnshire and 50 in North Lincolnshire.

Among the districts, South Kesteven recorded 13 cases and no deaths.

The total number of cases in the district now stands at 7013- about one for every 20 residents.

The weekly rate now stands at 66 cases per 100,000 with the district recording 94 cases in the week to today- a slight increase on the 89 to Sunday.

This is just above the England 7-day rate of 58.7, which has been on a consistent downward trend, while South Kesteven has fluctuated as it has headed downwards.

The number of deaths in South Kesteven remains at 263, as it has done for nearly 2 weeks.

Meanwhile, one death was registered in each of Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.

NHS England reported two new local hospital deaths at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and one at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust.

On Monday, national cases increased by 5,089 to 4,263,527, while deaths rose by 64 to 125,580.

Last week, coronavirus numbers bounced back on the up with 1,120 new cases in Greater Lincolnshire and 24 deaths. It followed a drop the previous week to 818 cases and 19 deaths.

Elsewhere, France and Italy have joined Germany in becoming the latest countries to suspend use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

They join European countries the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Ireland, as well as Bulgaria and Iceland in pausing administration of the doses.

It follows reports of links between the vaccine and blood clots, however, UK regulators and the World Health Organisation have said there's no evidence.

In Italy a prosecutor has ordered the seizure of nearly 400,000 doses of the vaccine following the death of a man after receiving the jab.

However, Thailand is to resume administering it after a brief suspension recently.

In other news, hand sanitiser and loungewear have been added to the list of goods used to calculate the cost of living in the UK.

It follows high demand during the pandemic and other items added include hand weights used by gym-goers stuck at home.