There have been 5,412 coronavirus cases and 208 COVID-related deaths recorded in Greater Lincolnshire in February, half as many as January, which saw 10,667 cases and 426 deaths.

Over the weekend, 278 new coronavirus cases and nine deaths in Greater Lincolnshire. This means last week there were altogether 1,283 COVID cases and 35 deaths in Greater Lincolnshire, compared to 1,219 cases and 45 deaths the week before — a 5% rise in cases, but a 28% reduction in deaths.

The government's COVID-19 dashboard recorded 174 new cases in Lincolnshire across Saturday and Sunday, 58 in North Lincolnshire and 46 in North East Lincolnshire.

Among the districts, South Kesteven recorded 26 cases over the weekend and two deaths.

The seven day case rate fell from 132 cases per 100,000 to 125.7 as the number of cases over a week dropped from 188 in the week to Friday to 179 in the week ending Sunday.

This compares with an England average 7 day case rate of 107.8 cases per 100,000, which is also on a downward trend.

Altogether, South Kesteven has recorded 6813 cases, almost one for every 20 residents.

The number of deaths is now 152, about one-in-600 residents.

Overall, by the end of Sunday, seven deaths were registered in Lincolnshire, one 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 three new local hospital deaths at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and one at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust. This means 15 hospital deaths were recorded last week, down from 26 the week before. 111 deaths occurred in hospitals in February, a decrease from 258 in January.

The weekend saw national cases increase to 4,176,554, deaths rose to 122,849, while coronavirus first jabs surpassed 20 million.

Over the weekend, a coronavirus "variant of concern" first detected in Brazil was found in the UK. Three cases have been detected in England and separately three in Scotland.

In England, officials are still trying to track down one of those who tested positive for the new variant.

A huge boost in spending on the UK's COVID-19 vaccine programme will be announced by the chancellor in the Budget on Wednesday.

Rishi Sunak will pledge a further £1.65 billion for jabs, a cash injection hailed by the Treasury as a "shot in the arm" for the vaccine rollout.

Since Friday, Greater Lincolnshire has seen an increase in its infection rate, while national numbers have dropped.

Three of the nine authorities in Greater Lincolnshire have seen a decrease in their infection rates, but the other six have seen increases.

South Holland is currently ranked 11th nationally for highest infection rate and over the last week, North East Lincolnshire has climbed the ranks to third in Greater Lincolnshire.

North East Lincolnshire's rise is "associated with a number of significant outbreaks that have occurred in factories," according to its latest epidemiology report.

Because UK infection rates are generally low, local health bosses aren't concerned with Greater Lincolnshire's rates currently and are constantly monitoring them.

Here's Greater Lincolnshire's infection rate up to February 28:

53,483 cases (up 278)

37,755 in Lincolnshire (up 174)

7,681 in North East Lincolnshire (up 46)

2,074 deaths (up nine)

1,524 from Lincolnshire (up seven)

250 from North East Lincolnshire (up one)

of which 1,220 hospital deaths (up four)

757 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (up three)

1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)