Rutland recorded 25 cases of Covid-19 today, pushing the 7-day case rate back earlier highs of the highest in 5 weeks.

This follows 21 positive tests yesterday, 15 on Wednesday, 22 on Tuesday, 19 on Monday, 33 over the weekend and 24 positive tests recorded last Friday.

The 7-day rate now stands at 321.2 cases per 100,000 of population, compared with 298.9 yesterday, 313.3 on Wednesday, 338.5 on Tuesday, 318.7 on Monday, 326.1 on Sunday and 321.2 on Friday.

Last Friday, the 7-day infection rate stood at 321.2 and it was at 210 the Friday before that.

The county now has recorded 2800 having tested positive with the virus since the pandemic started- about one-in-15 of its population- better than England's one-in-ten of the population.

Rutland has gone yet another day without a Covid-related fatality, according to official government figures, making it more than 5 weeks since the county had one.

Public Health England figures say the last death was on the weekend of July 25.

Since the pandemic started, 66 county residents have died within 28 days of testing positive. This is about one for every 600 residents, which compares with the national average of one-in-500 residents.

Prior to the county's latest fatality, the last recorded such death in England's smallest county was on Wednesday April 28. Before that it was Thursday March 25.

Meanwhile, in Lincolnshire, South Kesteven's 7-day infection rate has fallen again, giving a decline of a tenth in a week.

The rate has fluctuated, with the number similar to two weeks ago, suggesting they may have reached a peak.

Today, 91 cases of Covid-19 were recorded, compared to 61 yesterday and Wednesday, 62 on Tuesday, 68 on Monday and 118 over the weekend.

Last Friday, 92 cases were recorded, compared with 83 the Friday before and 64 the Thursday before that.

The 7-day rate has dropped from 350.5.1 cases per 100,000 of population yesterday, to 335.1 today. This compares with a peak of 370.7 last Friday.

The Friday prior to that it was at 338.6 and it was 317 the Friday before that, three weeks ago.

With its fluctuations, South Kesteven now has a higher 7-day infection rate than both Lincolnshire's 308.9 and England's 302.7, whose growth has been slower but more consistent, though the national figure peaked at 332 last Friday before declining since.

Overall, since the pandemic started, South Kesteven has recorded 11,675 positive tests - about one case for each 12 residents. Again, this is better than the England average, which is just over one case for every ten people.

The figures come amid much testing, which has now risen to around 1.2 million a day and 6.1million over a week nationally.

No deaths were recorded today, but there were s recorded two covid-related death over the bank holiday weekend in the district- the tenth fatality this month.

One on Bank Holiday Monday followed one recorded on Saturday-Sunday, two on Thursday, and one last Tuesday, making it five in a week.

There was also one Covid-linked fatality the previous Friday, one the Monday before the Friday and one the weekend prior to that.

With fatalities also recorded on August 1 and August 3, the number of deaths with Covid in the district is now 10 in this month alone.

Before these latest fatalities, the previous Covid-related deaths in the district were reported on May 5 and March 25, giving us 12 deaths in about 5 months.

It means since the pandemic started, official government figures record 280 fatalities in South Kesteven within 28 days of a positive test for Covid-19.

The total amounts to 195.5 deaths per 100,000, which is equivalent to one fatality for just over 500 residents.

The England average is one death for just under 500 residents.

Meanwhile, Greater Lincolnshire's COVID case numbers have passed the 100,000 mark on Friday, as 3,423 cases were confirmed so far this week in total.

Government figures on Friday showed 433 new cases in Lincolnshire, 93 in North East Lincolnshire and 96 in North Lincolnshire. The total weekly figure so far is 23.12% higher than last week's 2,780.

Two further deaths of North and North East Lincolnshire residents were also confirmed in the government figures. Bringing the total to 13 compared to 15 for last week.

NHS data, meanwhile, confirmed one further death in Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Trust's facilities.

The weekly total of eight is one fewer than last week's nine.

Nationally, cases increased by 42,076 to 6,904,969 while deaths rose by 121 to 133,041.

England's coronavirus reproduction number has fallen slightly, according to the latest government figures.

Last week the R number, which represents the average number of people a positive person will infect was between 1 and 1.1, but this Friday the figures show it as between 0.9 and 1.1.

The Office for National Statistics latest estimates said one in 75 people in the UK tested positive for coronavirus in the week to August 27.

The ONS data says the highest rates are in age ranges between 17-24 year olds, but rates have increased in those aged 70 and over – despite them remaining the lowest group.

Meanwhile, a group of expert scientists have warned it would be "reckless" to allow the mass infection of children as they look to return to school over the next week or so.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on Friday, however, refused to give the go ahead to vaccinating healthy children aged 12-15 years old on health grounds alone.

They instead advised government to consider wider issues including disruption to schools.

However, 200,000 children with underlying health concerns such as chronic heart, lung and liver conditions will be allowed two jabs after being found to be at much higher risk of Covid than healthy children.