Rutland has seen the number of officially confirmed cases in the county top 3,000- about one for every 14 residents since the start of the pandemic.

Some 22 positive tests were recorded today, but the county has also exceeded seven weeks without a Covid-related fatality.

This follows 13 positive cases recorded yesterday, 30 over the weekend, 23 last Tuesday and 22 the Tuesday before.

This gives the district a 7-day infection rate of 365.6 cases per 100,000 of population, compared with 363.2 cases yesterday and 392.9 on Monday- the highest since late July. Last Tuesday it was 343.4 and it was 338.5 two weeks ago.

The county now has recorded 3017 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.

As earlier mentioned, 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 44 cases of Covid-19 today and no deaths.

Yesterday it recorded one death, which followed one last weekend, one on Tuesday and one on Thursday.

The four September fatalities compare with ten in August.

Today's 44 positive tests compares with 38 yesterday, 55 over the weekend, 57 last Tuesday, and 62 the Tuesday before.

The current weekly rate of 271.6 cases per 100,000 of population is the lowest in about 5 weeks. It compares with 295.3 yesterday, 311.4 on Sunday, 342.8 last Tuesday and 307 two weeks ago.

With its fluctuations, South Kesteven now has a lower 7-day infection rate than Lincolnshire's 318.7 and lower than England's 321.4, both of which have been far more consistent than the district ands are also heading back down.

Overall, since the pandemic started, South Kesteven has recorded 12,240 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 1.1 million a day or 7.6 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 198.3 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, the government has laid out its winter COVID plans, including a plan "B" to bring back face masks, as 396 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Greater Lincolnshire on Tuesday.

The plans were announced first in the House of Commons by health secretary Sajid Javid and later at a press conference by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Under initial proposals, the main defences will see the unvaccinated encouraged to get the jab, as well as opening up the vaccine to 12-15-year-olds.

COVID booster jabs will begin to be offered across the UK from next week and will be aimed at the over-50s, younger adults with health conditions and frontline health and care workers.

Those hoping to receive a booster must have had six months since their second dose.

The government's plans also include testing, tracing of cases and self-isolation for those who catch the virus.

Businesses will be asked to consider using the NHS COVID Pass to check the vaccination status of customers, while it is also "highly likely" frontline NHS and social care staff will need to have COVID-19 and flu vaccinations in order to be deployed.

However, Mr Javid acknowledge there was a "Plan B".

"Any responsible government must prepare for all eventualities, and although these measures are not an outcome anyone wants, it's one we need to be ready for just in case," he said.

He added that it would be brought in "only if they are needed and supported by the data to prevent unsustainable pressure on the NHS".

Under the emergency measures, the government would consider legally mandating face coverings in certain settings and introducing vaccine passports for nightclubs, crowded indoor venues with more than 500 attendees, crowded outdoor events with more than 4,000 people and any other settings with more than 10,000 people.

At the evening press conference, Mr Johnson said around 80% of over-16s were now double vaccinated and COVID antibodies are in 90% of adults.

However, he said nearly five million more people should still be encouraged to get the vaccine.

"COVID is still out there. The disease still remains a risk," he said, but added he was "confident we can protect the gains we've made together".

Government figures on Tuesday showed 270 new cases in Lincolnshire, 45 in North East Lincolnshire and 81 in North Lincolnshire.

Five further deaths of Greater Lincolnshire residents were confirmed in the government figures, with one in Lincolnshire and one each in North and North East Lincolnshire.

Nationally, cases increased by 26,628 to 7,282,810 while deaths rose by 185 to 134,446.