There have been 1,023 positive cases of COVID-19 and eight deaths in Greater Lincolnshire this week.

The UK coronavirus dashboard latest figures for Friday show 145 cases in Greater Lincolnshire, with 65 in Lincolnshire, 26 in North Lincolnshire and 54 in North East Lincolnshire.

Among them, South Kesteven increased 15 today, compared with 30 yesterday and 50 on Wednesday. The district also recorded one death today, putting it on 53.

It means means there have been 2,450 cases for the month across Greater Lincolnshire.

NHS figures have reported four further deaths in the region this week with two each at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals Trust facilities.

No further deaths were confirmed in hospitals on Friday.

The government's own death tally, which includes those both in and out of hospitals and those of residents in hospitals outside the county, included increased by eight this week.

It includes two further deaths of Lincolnshire residents.

Nationally, on Friday cases increased by 15,650 to 689,257 while deaths jumped by 136 to 43,429.

This week has seen a number of changes nationally, including the introduction of a new three-tier lockdown systemdividing the nation into medium (tier 1), high (tier 2) and very high (tier 3) level areas.

The move saw Lincolnshire's neighbour Nottinghamshire put into the second-highest tier of measures, which will see see mixing between different households or support bubbles stopped. The rule of six will be expanded to apply outdoors as well as inside.

Lincolnshire is currently still on the medium (tier 1) level for COVID-19 risk which means it has no extra restrictions on top of the nation-wide ones.

Since then nearly half of the country has been moved into the higher tiers. Prime Minister Boris Johnson though has insisted he won't yet put the country into a second national lockdown.

Health professionals, however, believe a two-week short circuit breaker may help alleviate the pressures on the NHS during the winter period.

Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire for Friday, October 16

6,897 cases (up 145)

4,730 in Lincolnshire (up 65)

838 in North East Lincolnshire (up 54)

The 4,730 for Lincolnshire is equivalent to 621.4 cases per 100,000 of population.

This compares with an England average of 1039 cases per 100,000 of population, based on its 584,843 cases.

Leicester now reports 8439 cases, or 2382.4 per 100,000. This is an increase of 56 today.

This figure gives a rate more than four times that of Lincolnshire and around five times that of South Kesteven. It is more than five times the Rutland rate.

Leicestershire now has 6917 confirmed cases (up 72 today), giving a rate of 979.5 cases per 100,000.

Melton is up 1 to 373 today, with a rate today of 728.4 cases per 100,000.

Peterborough is up 20 to 2198 or 1086.7 cases per 100,000.

Rutland is up 6 today at 245, giving it a rate of 613.6 cases per 100,000.

South Holland is up 5 today at 847, with a rate of 891.5 cases per 100,000.

And South Kesteven is up 15 today at 911, giving it a rate today of 639.6 cases per 100,000.

Grater Lincolnshire reports 417 deaths (up two)

288 from Lincolnshire (up two)

38 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)

5 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)

124 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)

Around the region, Leicester increased by one death today to 286.

Rutland remains on 13.

And South Kesteven increased 1 to 53.

The UK has 689,257 confirmed cases and 43,429 deaths.

DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF the latest update. postcode data includes deaths not in healthcare facilities or in hospitals outside authority boundaries.