Rutland is back to having among the highest 7-day Covid-infection rates in about six weeks.

The county recorded 23 cases today, giving it a 7-day rate of 343.4 cases per 100,000 per 100,000, which is just slightly down on last Tuesday's peak of 338.5, which was the highest in 5 weeks.

This follows 15 cases yesterday, 39 over the weekend, 22 last Tuesday and 14 the Tuesday before.

The 7-day rate of 343.4 cases per 100,000 compares with 333.5 yesterday, 303.9 on Sunday, 338.5 last Tuesday and 261.9 the Tuesday before.

The county now has recorded 2877 having tested positive with the virus since the pandemic started- about one-in-14 of its population- better than England's one-in-9 of the population.

Rutland has now exceeded six weeks without a Covid-related fatality.

Public Health England figures say the last such 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 has recorded its second Covid-related fatality in just a few days.

The death follows the first September fatality at the weekend.

Altogether, the district recorded ten deaths in August.

With Covid-related deaths on May 5 and March 25, South Kesteven has seen 14 Covid related deaths in over 5 months.

It means since the pandemic started, official government figures record 282 fatalities in South Kesteven within 28 days of a positive test for Covid-19.

The total amounts to 196.9 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.

Today, 57positive tests were recorded, compared with 68 yesterday, 118 over the weekend, 62 last Tuesday and 71 the Tuesday before.

The current weekly rate of 342.8 is the highest since last Thursday's 350.5 and up on yesterday's 326.1 cases per 100,000.

Last Tuesday saw it at 307, and it was at 365.9 the Tuesday before that.

With its fluctuations, South Kesteven now has a higher 7-day infection rate than both Lincolnshire's 304.4 and England's 317, both of which have been far more consistent.

Overall, since the pandemic started, South Kesteven has recorded 11,918 positive tests - about one case for each 12 residents. Again, this is better than the England average, which is about one case for every 9 people.

The figures come amid much testing, almost a third up on the previous week, currently running around 1.3 million a day or 7.4 million over a week nationally.

Overall, across Greater Lincolnshire, there have been 504 cases of coronavirus confirmed on Tuesday as government ministers estimate that four in five people aged 16 and over have now received both doses of vaccine.

Government figures today showed 342 new cases in Lincolnshire, 82 in North East Lincolnshire and 80 in North Lincolnshire.

Four further deaths of Greater Lincolnshire residents were confirmed in the government figures, with three in the county itself and one in North East Lincolnshire.

Nationally, cases increased by 37,489 to 7,056,106 while deaths rose by 209 to 133,483.

Nationally today, government bosses also confirmed that, across the UK, 43,535,098 people have had two jabs (80.1%) with a further 48,292,811 having one dose (88.8%).

The figure is equal to four in five of the adult eligible population.

Meanwhile, more than half of all teenagers aged 16-17 nationally have received their first dose.

Local figures are revealed on Thursdays, but figures last week showed that more than 81.6% of the county had received their second dose of the vaccine.

Elsewhere today, the government has announced a major overhaul to social care, with National Insurance set to increase by 1.25% from April 2022, but an extra £36 billion revenue promised in three years.

As part of discussions, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the extra cash will help address a backlog in NHS waiting lists.

The health service is due to get an extra £4.6bn support over the next six months following a government announcement last night.