Rutland has recorded a sharp rise in case numbers, with it being one of the few areas reporting an increase in its weekly rate.

Latest Public Health England data reveals that 306 of the country's 315 local authority areas have seen a week-on-week drop in new cases, with just Rutland, East Lindsey, North Kesteven, Gateshead, Torbay and Hartlepool reporting increases.

Yesterday, Rutland recorded 20 cases, an increase on 18 on Wednesday and smaller numbers earlier in the week.

The sharp increase from 8 on Tuesday also helped increase the 7-day case rate, which fluctuates, but increased significantly yesterday.

The number of weekly cases in the county increased from 68 to 80, increased the 7-day rate from 170.3 cases per 100,000 on Wednesday to 200.4 cases per 100,000. A week ago, Rutland was on 185.3 cases per 100,000.

The latest figure means that around one-in-500 Rutland residents have succumbed to the virus over the past week.

However, Rutland's seven day rate is well below the England average rate of 260.6 cases 100,000, which is falling relatively rapidly.

The total number of cases has now increased to 1206, which is a rate of 3020.5 cases per 100,000, which means about one-in-35 Rutlanders have been recorded at having caught the virus at some stage during the pandemic.

The deaths tally however remained at 44 yesterday after rising by one over the weekend, and one again on Tuesday, meaning around one-in-a-thousand Rutlanders will have died with Covid-19 at some stage.

Elsewhere, official government figures show 245 new coronavirus cases and 11 COVID-related deaths across Greater Lincolnshire on Thursday.

There were 177 new cases in Lincolnshire, 42 in North Lincolnshire and 26 in North East Lincolnshire.

Among the districts, South Kesteven reported 45 cases today, putting it on 6196 since the start of the pandemic. This means about one person in 25 in the district have a recorded case since the start of the pandemic.

The district is experiencing a downward trend with it 361 cases over the past week, giving a rate of 253.5 cases per 100,000. This is a decrease from 278.7 recorded over the weekend.

The number of deaths in South Kesteven increased by five yesterday to 213, following an increase of four yesterday. This means about on-in-70,000 in the district will have died with Covid-19 since the pandemic started.

On Thursday, 10 deaths were registered in Lincolnshire and one in North Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.

NHS England reported six new local hospital deaths on Thursday, including four at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and two at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG).

On Thursday, national cases increased by 20,634 to 3,892,459, while deaths rose by 915 to 110,250.

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Researchers in Aberdeen focused on the world's worst affected 37 countries.

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