Rutland's 7-day case rate is back up to its highest since July.

The county recorded 26 cases today, compared with 23 yesterday and 23 on Monday. Last Thursday saw 21 positive tests, with 19 the Thursday before.

This gives the district a 7-day infection rate of 353.3 cases per 100,000 of population- the highest in about 7 weeks- which compares with 338.5 yesterday, 343.4 on Tuesday, 298.9 last Thursday and 313.8 the Thursday before.

The county now has recorded 2926 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.

South Kesteven has recorded its third Covid-related fatality in a week.

This follows on from one case at the weekend and another on Tuesday, making it three this month.

Altogether, the district recorded ten deaths in August.

With Covid-related deaths on May 5 and March 25, South Kesteven has seen 15 Covid related deaths in over 5 months.

It means since the pandemic started, official government figures record 283 fatalities in South Kesteven within 28 days of a positive test for Covid-19.

The total amounts to 197.6 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, in Lincolnshire, South Kesteven has recorded its third Covid-related fatality in a week.

This follows on from one case at the weekend and another on Tuesday, making it three this month.

Altogether, the district recorded ten deaths in August.

With Covid-related deaths on May 5 and March 25, South Kesteven has seen 15 Covid related deaths in over 5 months.

It means since the pandemic started, official government figures record 283 fatalities in South Kesteven within 28 days of a positive test for Covid-19.

The total amounts to 197.6 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.

Some 57 positive tests were recorded today, compared with 48 yesterday and 57 on Tuesday. Last Thursday saw 59, and the Thursday before saw 78.

The current weekly rate of 332.3 is the lowest this week and compares with last Thursday's 350.5 and 358.9 the Thursday before that.

With its fluctuations, South Kesteven has a higher 7-day infection rate than both Lincolnshire's 320.4 and England's 330.7, both of which have been far more consistent.

Overall, since the pandemic started, South Kesteven has recorded 12,023 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 7.9 million over a week nationally, which is more than a third up on the previous week.

Across Greater Lincolnshire, there have been 439 cases of coronavirus confirmed on Thursday as the government begins consultation on whether health workers should be compelled to have the COVID jab.

Government figures today showed 309 new cases in Lincolnshire, 61 in North East Lincolnshire and 69 in North Lincolnshire.

Four further deaths of Greater Lincolnshire residents were confirmed in the government figures, with two in Lincolnshire and two in North East Lincolnshire.

Nationally, the government has started a six-week consultation on proposals to make COVID and flu vaccines mandatory for health workers.

Some 81.7% of home care workers have had their first dose, and 69.4% are fully vaccinated, according to NHS data.

Opposition to the plan, however, said that persuasion would be more effective than compulsion.

Public Health England has estimated that the coronavirus vaccine has averted 112,300 deaths across the country.

However, data also shows COVID-19 case rates are rising in all regions of England except the South West, according to the latest weekly surveillance report.

North-east England has the highest rate, with 378.6 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to 5 September, up from 320.3.

Elsewhere, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has given the go-ahead for the two shots to be used in any future booster programme.

Nationally, 38,013 people tested positive with Covid-19 today, giving a total of 272,334 over the past week. This is an increase of 36,182 (15.3%) from the previous week.

Nationally, 167 died today within 28 days of a positive test, giving a weekly total of 921, an increase of 144 (18.5%) over the previous week.