The 7-day case rate for South Kesteven has further increased with a whopping 31 'cases' recorded in the district today.

However, no more deaths were recorded and the 7-day infection rate is well below half the England average.

The figures come as testing has been ramped up significantly across the country, with 1.276 million taking place yesterday alone and almost 7.2 million tests over the past week.

Today's 31 positive test results in South Kesteven follow the 44 recorded over the weekend and 12 last Monday and 8 the Monday before that.

The 7-day infection rate now stands at 93.4 cases per 100,000 population- the highest since April. But the district's rate is less than half the England average of 223.8 cases per 100,000.

This seven day rate compares with 79.3 yesterday. 56.2 on Friday, 38.6 last Monday, and 40.7 cases per 100,000 the Monday before.

The England average 7-day rate has steadily risen in recent weeks, while the South Kesteven figure has tended to fluctuate at a much reduced level before creeping upwards.

No deaths were recorded again and the number since the start of the pandemic remains at 270. The last fatality in the district was six weeks ago and the last before that, was also six weeks prior.

Overall, across Greater Lincolnshire, there have been 463 cases of coronavirus confirmed on Monday, 75% higher than last week's figure of 264 cases, and the highest daily count since early January.

The government's COVID-19 dashboard on Monday reported 215 new cases in Lincolnshire, 182 in North East Lincolnshire and 66 in North Lincolnshire.

In positive news, the figures showed no further deaths in the government or NHS England data today.

Nationally, cases increased by 27,334 to 4,930,534 while deaths rose by nine to 128,231.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will hold a press conference on Monday evening in which he will lay out the next easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

He is expected to confirm that from July 19 there will be an end to compulsory face masks, one-metre plus social distancing and QR code sign-ins at restaurants among other measures.

The last stage of lockdown lifting was due to take place last month but was delayed after an increase in cases.

The BBC said the PM was not expected to address self isolation, travel restrictions or the rules in schools.

Unions have criticised the plans to make face coverings voluntary, saying there will be an increased risk to public transport drivers and shop workers.

Earlier today, National Medical Director of NHS England Professor Stephen Powis told Sky News that hospital admissions now were nearly 10 times less than mid-December, despite a sharp increase in case numbers.

Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Monday, July 5

10,329 in North Lincolnshire (up 66)

302 from North Lincolnshire (no change)

43 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)

454 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)

4,930,534 UK cases, 128,231 deaths