The number of Covid-19 cases in South Kesteven has increased by around a quarter over the past week.

The increase comes amid a backdrop of a massive increase in testing nationally, including of children returning to school.

The latest figures show South Kesteven is bucking the Lincolnshire trend by having a rising 7-day rate, while much of the county continues to enjoy further declines in case numbers.

The district has recorded 111 cases over the past week, giving it a 7-day case rate of 77.9. This compares with 89 cases in the week to last Sunday and a rate of 62.5.

Recently, a low of 80 cases were recorded in the week to Wednesday March 10.

South Kesteven's current case rate of 77.9 cases per 100,000 compares with the England average of 57.1 cases per 100,000 of population, which has consistently fallen.

Over the weekend, South Kesteven recorded 33 cases, giving a grand total of 7125- equivalent to about one case for every 20 residents.

The number of deaths remains at 264, meaning one death for about 700 residents, which is better than the England average of about one death for every 500 residents.

Overall, there have been 328 new coronavirus cases and seven COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire over the weekend.

This means last week there were altogether 1,091 COVID cases and 22 deaths in Greater Lincolnshire, compared to 1,120 cases and 24 deaths the week before — a 2.6% drop in cases and 9% reduction in deaths.

The government's COVID-19 dashboard recorded 199 new cases in Lincolnshire across Saturday and Sunday, 81 in North Lincolnshire and 48 in North East Lincolnshire.

By the end of Sunday, six deaths were registered in Lincolnshire, one in North East Lincolnshire and -1 in North Lincolnshire.

Fluctuations in data are usually due to some deaths in those areas being reallocated to other regions across the UK or a miscount. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.

NHS England reported two new local hospital deaths at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and one at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust. This means 17 hospital deaths were recorded last week, down from 21 the week before.

The weekend saw national cases increase to 4,296,583, while deaths rose to 126,155.

Over the weekend, the number of daily COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the UK has hit a record high for a third consecutive day.

A combined total of 844,285 first or second doses were given on Saturday, up from 711,157 on Friday.

Boris Johnson is expected to urge EU leaders this week to dismiss any proposals to block coronavirus vaccine exports to the UK.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen insisted over the weekend that the EU has the power to "forbid" exports of coronavirus doses, adding: "That is the message to AstraZeneca."

In local news, Greater Lincolnshire's infection rate has seen a slight drop since last Wednesday, but still remains well above the national average of 57.1 per 100,000 people.

Infection rate increases have occurred in four of the nine Greater Lincolnshire districts, most prominently in North Lincolnshire, which has taken the top spot from North East Lincolnshire.

North Lincolnshire has the seventh highest infection rate nationally, shortly followed by North East Lincolnshire in 11th place.

The national average continues to fall, despite it now being two weeks since pupils went back to school in England.

Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Sunday, March 21

8,688 in North Lincolnshire (up 81)

300 from North Lincolnshire (down one)

41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)

444 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up one)

4,296,583 cases, 126,155 deaths