Rutland is suffering from a rising rate of Coronavirus cases, which threaten hopes for the county to move to the lowest Tier 1 status.

They may even mean Rutland joins its neighbours in the highest Tier 3 status, when the government announces its review of the Tiers tomorrow.

The move, which was meant to happen today, comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson this afternoon at 3.30pm is due to give a press conference about the impending 'Christmas Bubble' regulations, which have come under fire from critics seeking a stricter lockdown.

Last night, Rutland MP Alicia Kearns took to social media to warn that in Rutland, case numbers were 112.7 per 100,000 on December 9.

This meant the number of cases had increased a quarter on the previous week, she said, and by 95.7 per cent since the last two weeks data was available.

The MP said: "In the last two weeks, that means Rutland's case rate has almost doubled."

Mrs Kearns also cited rising rates in Melton and Market Harborough, but noted the government has said Rutland, Leicester and Leicestershire would be treated separately when the new tiers are announced, as previously reported by Nub News.

She continued: "I've been urging the Government to review Rutland's tier status given that we have had some of the lowest incidence of COVID-19 in the country throughout the pandemic.

"However, the rising rates are a serious concern – and the Health Secretary acknowledged in the House of Commons yesterday my efforts to get us into Tier 1, which with this increase looks less likely.

"I have also worked to ensure that the decision makers are aware of how many residents travel to Peterborough Hospital, which is closer for many and has lower rates, rather than Leicester hospital. However Peterborough is also suffering in terms of ICU capacity, with all beds taken."

The government's Covid-19 tracker today reports that Rutland has seen 53 reported cases of Covid-19 in the past 7 says, giving it a 'weekly rate' of 132.7 cases per 100,000 of population.

In total, since the start of the pandemic, Rutland has seen 571 cases and 23 deaths. It's rate of 1430.1 cases per 100,000 means that just over one person in every 100 is recorded to have had Covid-19.

Rutland's current weekly rate of 132.7 cases per 100,000 is well below the England average of 184 cases per 100,000.

Nearby Leicestershire has 159.3 cases per 100,000, Leicester City is on 255.9 and Lincolnshire is on 255.4 cases per 100,000. The South Kesteven District of Lincolnshire, which includes Stamford, is on 172.7 cases per 100,000.