Rutland has recorded just two cases of Covid-19 following on from two cases recorded at the weekend.

Though today's figure has caused a slight rise in the number of cases recorded in the county over the past week- 8 compared with 6 in the week to yesterday- this is still lower than a week ago.

The 7-day case rate for Rutland is now 20 cases per 100,000, which compares with the England average of 24.8.

The number of deaths remains at 61, as it has for nearly 5 weeks. Nationally six deaths were recorded today.

The Rutland total figure amounts to about one fatality for every 700 residents, which, which compares with an England average of one-in-500.

Meanwhile in Lincolnshire, just two cases of Covid-19 has been recorded in South Kesteven today, causing a plunge in its 7-day infection rate.

The decline fuelled one recorded over the weekend when the district recorded six cases.

It means that South Kesteven has recorded 34 cases in the past week, compared to 52 in the week to last Monday and 71 in the week to the Monday before that.

It has meant that in the past fortnight the 7-day case rate has more than halved from 49.9 cases per 100,000 to 23.9 cases per 100,000.

This compares with the England average which has fallen from 28.1 to 24.8.

The number of deaths has remained at 266 for almost three weeks. This means that around one-in-600 residents have died within 28 days of a positive test since the pandemic started, which compares with an England average of one-in-500.

Meanwhile, there have been 42 coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire and one COVID-related death on Monday.

The government's COVID-19 dashboard recorded 21 new cases in Lincolnshire, 15 in North Lincolnshire and six in North East Lincolnshire.

There was one death registered in Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county. Fluctuations in data can occur for a variety of reasons including corrected data, misdiagnoses or wrong addresses.

On Monday, national cases increased by 2,064 to 4,406,946, while deaths rose by six to 127,434.

On Monday, coronavirus vaccinations were opened up to 44-year-olds with two thirds of the previous age group, the 45 to 49-year-olds now having their first dose according to government figures.

Plans for the next age group, the 40 to 43-year-olds, will be announced in the coming days.

In other news, a television advert has been launched, encouraging under-50s to get vaccinated.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been in the limelight today after suggestions he said that "bodies could pile high"during a heated discussion about lockdown in Downing Street last autumn.

Mr Johnson has since rejected the suggestion, but civil servants have faced questioning over the reports.

The European Commission has also announced it is taking legal action against vaccine manufacturer AstraZeneca. It said the manufacturer had not respected some terms of its vaccine supply contract and "the company has not been in a position to come up with a reliable strategy to ensure a timely delivery of doses".