Rutland has reported a drop in its 7-day case rate of Covid 19 as ten cases in the county were recorded yesterday.

The ten cases gives the county a grand total of 994 since the pandemic started- equivalent to almost one-in-40 of Rutland's population.

The weekly number of cases dropped from 106 over the weekend to 94 yesterday, giving Rutland a weekly rate of 235.4 cases per 100,000.

This compares with an England average of 520.4 cases per 100,000 of population.

The number of deaths of people dying with the virus in Rutland, according to the Government's Covid-19 tracker again remained at 27, as it has done for about a week.

Nearby South Kesteven is also reporting fewer cases, with our neighbouring district no longer Greater Lincolnshire's hotspot for Covid-19 cases.

After around a week of being top of the lost for cases in the county, it is now number 3, slipping behind South Holland, and leader Lincoln City.

Over the past week, South Kesteven has seen a slump in new cases of around a quarter, while Lincoln City has seen a small decline and South Holland has reported an increase.

South Kesteven on Monday recorded 78 cases, putting it on 5274 since the start of the pandemic. This is equivalent to 3703 cases per 100,000 of population, or just over one case for every 30 since the pandemic started.

Some 410 cases have been recorded over the past week, a decrease in the 473 cases in the week to Friday. The 7-day infection rate of 287.9 100,000 is equivalent to about one in 350 of the population. Last Monday, South Kesteven had a 7-day rate of 391.8.

The number of deaths in South Kesteven increased two yesterday to 163 since the start of the pandemic.

Overall, there have been 372 new coronavirus cases and nine COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Monday.

The government's COVID-19 dashboard recorded 325 new cases in Lincolnshire, 30 in North Lincolnshire and 17 in North East Lincolnshire.

Some nine deaths were registered in Lincolnshire and none in North and North East Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.

National cases increased by 37,535 to 3,433,494, while deaths rose by 599 to 89,860.

In national news, Public Health England have confirmed 4,062,501 people have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Those in England aged 70 and over, as well as the clinically extremely vulnerable, will begin receiving offers of a coronavirus vaccine this week.

In Rutland, 90 per cent of over 80s have now been vaccinated, including all those in care homes.

More than five million people – from priority groups three and four – will be invited from today to have the jab.

Rutland over 70s are already being contacted.

Ten hospital trusts across England consistently reported having no spare adult critical care beds in the most recent figures available.

It comes as hospital waiting times, coronavirus admissions and patients requiring intensive care are rising.

All UK travel corridors, which allow arrivals from some countries to avoid having to quarantine, have now closed until at least February 15.

Travellers arriving in the UK, whether by boat, train or plane, also have to show proof of a negative coronavirus test to be allowed entry.

Supermarkets face increased inspections from local councils to ensure they are COVID-secure amid a push from the government to clamp down further on coronavirus transmission.

Local governments have been asked by ministers to target the largest supermarkets for inspection to ensure companies are enforcing mask wearing, social distancing and limits on shopper numbers.