A weekend without any further reported COVID-19 deaths means Lincolnshire has gone almost a week without fatalities in its hospitals.

The last reported fatality at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust was on Tuesday, June 2, and the number has remained at 139 (including Lincolnshire Community Health Service and Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust) since then.

There was just one reported new confirmed case released in official government figures over the weekend, taking the total to 1,121.

Director of public health at Lincolnshire County Council Derek Ward said: "Certainly the figures seem to be going in the right direction which is great, and what we hoped for and expected to a large extent"

A caveat was that sometimes data was delayed, however, he added: "We've still got the lowest rates across the Midlands so everything is is looking positive in terms of reducing numbers both in Lincolnshire and across the country.

"I'd reiterate though that this isn't the time to be complacent, we've got to make sure we continue to stick by the rules, and a key part of that is keeping two metres social distance to protect ourselves."

Figures from Cambridge University over the weekend estimated that the Midlands R number – the rate of infection – was 0.94 compared to the national 0.7-0.9.

However, Mr Ward was keen to point out that Lincolnshire had the lowest infection rate in the region outside of Rutland and although the R number cannot be accurately worked out for the county he believed it to be much lower.

Across Greater Lincolnshire the northern authorities also saw no further deaths reported, leaving Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals with 114 deaths.

Three further cases were confirmed – two in North Lincolnshire (519 total) and one in North East Lincolnshire (158).