Four deaths from Covid-19 were recorded in South Kesteven over the weekend but the infection rate is dropping sharply, with it almost halving over a fortnight.

The district recorded 49 cases on Saturday and Sunday, giving a grand total of 6499 since the start of the pandemic, meaning one case for about 20 residents since the pandemic started.

South Kesteven recorded 211 cases in the week to Sunday, compared with 260 in the week to Friday. A week ago the equivalent number was 342 and 397 the weekend before.

This means that the 7-day infection rate has dropped from 287.7 cases per 100,000 two weeks ago, to 240.1 last weekend, to 182.6 on Friday and 148.1 yesterday.

This is reflected nationally, which has seen the England 7-day rate drop from 309.5 two weeks ago, to 233.2 cases last weekend, 188.3 on Friday and 167.5 on Sunday.

South Kesteven recorded four deaths over the weekend, after two on Friday, three on Thursday, three on Wednesday and six on Tuesday, putting the total on 237 fatalities since the start of the pandemic.

Altogether, about one-in-600 residents in the district have died after testing positive with the virus.

Across Greater Lincolnshire, there were 386 new coronavirus cases and 13 COVID-related deaths recorded over Valentine's weekend, as infection rates dropped across our region.

The government's COVID-19 dashboard recorded 294 new cases in Lincolnshire across Saturday and Sunday, 51 in North East Lincolnshire and 41 in North Lincolnshire.

By the end of Sunday, nine deaths were registered in Lincolnshire, three in North Lincolnshire and one in North East Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.

NHS England reported seven new local hospital deaths at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and four at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust.

The weekend saw national cases increase to 4,038,078 – surpassing the four million mark – while deaths rose to 117,166.

Over the weekend, more than 15 million people in the UK have now had their first coronavirus vaccine, in what Boris Johnson described as a "significant milestone".

The PM hailed the "extraordinary feat" reached just over two months after the first jab was given on December 8.

From Monday, all British and Irish citizens and UK residents who arrive in England after being in a high-risk COVID country now have to quarantine in hotels.

The "red list" of 33 countries includes Portugal, Brazil and South Africa.

The new regulations, which aim to stop COVID variants entering the country, apply to arrivals who have been in one of those places in the past 10 days.

In just under a week, nearly all Greater Lincolnshire districts have seen a drop in their infection rates, with only North East Lincolnshire staying the same.

South Holland has dropped in its infection rate but still remains the highest district in Greater Lincolnshire, while East Lindsey is the lowest.

South Kesteven is in third place.

Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Sunday, February 14

7,725 in North Lincolnshire (up 41)

296 from North Lincolnshire (up three)

38 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)

410 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up four)

4,038,078 cases, 117,166 deaths