South Kesteven has now gone more than 3 weeks without a fatality as the UK recorded just 13 deaths today.

However, the district recorded 8 cases today which compares with 6 last Thursday and 4 the previous Tuesday. Overall 38 cases have been reported in the past week.

This gives South Kesteven a 7-day infection rate of 26.7 cases per 100,000, which is just above the England average of 22.5.

This is an increase on the 13.3 cases per 100,000 recorded on Friday, and also on the 15.4 cases per 100,000 recorded last Thursday.

However, the latest figures remain among the lowest since last year and around a twentieth of figures earlier in the year when the weekly rate exceeded 400 cases per 100,000.

Overall, South Kesteven has seen 7575 recorded cases since the start of the pandemic- which is about one for every 20 residents.

The number of deaths has remained at 266 for more than 3 weeks. This means that around one-in-600 residents have died within 28 days of a positive test since the pandemic started, which compares with an England average of one-in-500.

Overall, there have been 71 new coronavirus cases and no COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Thursday, compared to 63 cases and two deaths this time last week.

The government's COVID-19 dashboard recorded 44 new cases in Lincolnshire, 22 in North Lincolnshire and five in North East Lincolnshire.

On Thursday, no deaths were registered in Greater Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county. NHS England has also reported no new local hospital deaths across Greater Lincolnshire's four hospital trusts, which currently stand at 1,304 since the pandemic started. National cases increased by 2,613 to 4,428,553, while deaths rose by 13 to 127,583. In local news, nearly a third of Lincolnshire residents have received their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, but the number of jabs being given out dropped by 17% last week, according to the latest figures. Data released on Thursday shows altogether 634,706 jabs have taken place in the county between December 8 and May 2 — a further 38,553 in the last week, and down on the 46,631 jabs given the week before. In national headlines, the UK is set to relax restrictions for visiting a handful of countries under a new traffic light system. Those returning to the UK from countries on the green list will not need to self-isolate for 10 days, while visitors to countries on the amber list will have to quarantine and get tested upon return. However, holidaymakers arriving at UK airports could face queues of up to 10 hours this summer as COVID-19 protocols will lead to huge delays, according to the Border Force union and an international travel group. The ISU – the union for borders, immigration and customs workers – is predicting huge queues at passport control due to the increased coronavirus checks required of passengers arriving into the UK.

Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Thursday, May 6

59,894 cases (up 71) 41,592 in Lincolnshire (up 44)

9,610 in North Lincolnshire (up 22)

8,692 in North East Lincolnshire (up five) 2,191 deaths (no change) 1,617 from Lincolnshire (no change)

306 from North Lincolnshire (no change)

268 from North East Lincolnshire (no change) of which 1,304 hospital deaths (no change) 812 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)

41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)

1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)

450 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)

4,428,553 UK cases, 127,583 deaths