Rutland has recorded a sharp rise in its 7-day case rate but the county has also gone 7 weeks without a covid-related fatality.

This follows 30 positive tests being recorded over the weekend, compared with 26 on both Friday and Thursday, 39 last weekend and 33 the weekend before.

This gives the district a 7-day infection rate of 392.8 cases per 100,000- the highest since late July. On Friday, it was 343.3 cases per 100,000 of population, down on Thursday's 353.3. Last Sunday, it was at 303.9 and 326.1 the Sunday before.

The county now has recorded 298 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 gone seven 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 55 cases over the weekend, bringing a fall in the district's 7-day case rate.

There were no Covid-related deaths over the weekend, giving a total of three for the week, with one last weekend, one on Tuesday and one on Thursday, making it three so far this month and ten in August.

The weekend's 55 positive tests follows 80 recorded on Friday, 57 on Thursday, 48 on Wednesday, 68 last weekend and 118 the weekend before.

The current weekly rate of 311.4 is the lowest so far this month. It compares with 328.2 on Friday, 332.8 on Thursday, 323.3 last Sunday and 365.2 the Sunday before.

With its fluctuations, South Kesteven now has a lower 7-day infection rate than Lincolnshire's 327.4 and lower than England's 342.7, both of which have been far more consistent.

Overall, since the pandemic started, South Kesteven has recorded 12,158 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 1.2 million a day or 8 million over a week nationally, which is almost a third up on the previous week.

Prior to the August and September deaths, South Kesteven reported such fatalities on May 5 and March 25, making it 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.

In related news, government ministers confirmed they won't be going ahead with plans to introduce COVID vaccine passports for nightclubs and large events, as the Prime Minister looks to lay out his winter plan, including a third jab.

The original plans would have required revellers to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test before they were allowed to enter venues.

But health secretary Sajid Javid told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday that he had "never liked the idea of saying to people you must show your papers to do what is just an everyday activity".

"We've looked at it properly and, whilst we should keep it in reserve as a potential option, I'm pleased to say that we will not be going ahead with plans for vaccine passports," he added.

The Prime Minister is set announce his plan for managing COVID-19 over the autumn and winter on Tuesday — first to MPs and then through an evening news conference.

According to Sky News, his focus will be more around vaccinations such as booster jabs more than any potential future lockdowns — though all options continue to remain on the table.

This will include booster jabs for the most vulnerable which were due to start this month.

Health bosses are also pushing for vaccinations to open to the 12-15-year-old age range.

Professor Neil Ferguson, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said vaccinating teenagers should be an "initial priority".

The latest news comes as there were 3,587 cases of coronavirus confirmed in Greater Lincolnshire last week.

Government figures on Sunday showed 578 new cases in Lincolnshire, 149 in North East Lincolnshire and 146 in North Lincolnshire.

The total weekly figure is 18% lower than last week's 4,381.

Five further deaths of Greater Lincolnshire residents were confirmed in the government figures, putting the weekly total at 15 compared to 16 for last week.

NHS data is not updated over the weekend. The weekly total of seven means one fewer than last week's eight.

Nationally, cases increased 27,229 to 7,226,276 while deaths rose 56 to 134,200.