South Kesteven has recorded its first death linked to Covid-19 in nearly 6 weeks.

The fatality over the weekend puts the district's death tally on 267, equivalent to about one-in-600 residents, which is better than the England average of one-in-500 residents.

Four cases were recorded in South Kesteven over the weekend, compared with four last weekend and five the weekend before, according to the government's UK Covid-19 Tracker.

This gives the district a 7-day infection rate of 14.7 cases per 100,000, a slight increase on the 12.6 recorded on Friday, but well down on the 18.3 recorded last Sunday and the 23.2 cases per 100,000 the Sunday before.

The current 7-day rate is based on 21 cases recorded over the past week and its rate of 14.7 compares with the England average of 21.3.

The grand total of 7621 cases since the start of the pandemic is equivalent to just over one case per 20 residents. The national average is about one-in-15.

Whilst the figures fluctuate, the latest figures remain among the lowest since last year and less than a thirtieth of figures earlier in the year when the weekly rate exceeded 400 cases per 100,000.

Overall, there were 191 coronavirus cases recorded last week in Greater Lincolnshire and two COVID-related deaths – a 37% drop in cases from the week before, but one more death.

The government's COVID-19 dashboard over the weekend recorded 31 new cases in Lincolnshire, 11 in North Lincolnshire and five in North East Lincolnshire.

One death was registered at the weekend, making the weekly total two. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.

NHS England have stopped reporting hospital deaths at weekends, meaning the latest figures from May 21 show 1,307 deaths have been recorded since the start of the pandemic.

Over the weekend, national cases increased to 4,462,538, while deaths rose to 127,721. Yesterday, the number of deaths increased by 5.

In national news over the weekend, more than 60 million coronavirus vaccine doses have been administered in the UK.

It comes after 762,361 first and second jabs were delivered in total across the country on Saturday – the second highest number since the rollout began late last year. Only 20 March saw more vaccines administered – 844,285.

More ways of supporting people to self-isolate in areas with higher coronavirus infection rates are to be piloted in nine parts of England.

There will be "buddying" services for people needing mental health support and alternative accommodation for those in overcrowded homes.

The prospects for ending all coronavirus lockdown restrictions in England on June 21 are "looking good" as long as people are careful, said Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency.

However, other scientists said the latest Indian variant could spread widely even with high vaccination coverage and the public were urged to get second shots.

Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Sunday, May 23

9,729 in North Lincolnshire (up 11)

307 from North Lincolnshire (no change)

41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)

451 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)

4,462,538 UK cases, 127,721 deaths