Six out of nine Lincolnshire districts have dropped down infection rate rankings after Christmas, but national cases have spiked.

However, South Kesteven, by contrast has increased its ranking from 185th in the country just before Christmas, to 145th yesterday as its seven day case rate has increased from 225.4 per 100,000 population in the week to December 23 to 313.9 in the week ending yesterday (Dec 28).

Lincoln and Boston were among the areas with the highest UK infection rates at the beginning of December, but are now out of the top 100 in the UK.

On Monday, the UK recorded its highest daily increase in coronavirus cases since the pandemic started with 41,385 positive tests.

Greater Lincolnshire's fall in ranking is not all due to a decrease in infection rates, but a rise in other parts of the country which have overtaken us.

On December 3, Lincoln had the ninth highest infection rate in the UK with 385.7 per 100,000 of the population being infected with COVID-19. Now, Lincoln is 119th, but with a higher infection rate of 388.7.

Boston became the hub for high infection rates on December 3 with 547.2, placing it second nationally. Now, it is 354.8 and 132nd in the country.

Areas such as North East Lincolnshire have more than halved their infection rate since the beginning of the month with 223.7 on December 3 to just 110.9, placing it 343rd in the UK.

North East Lincolnshire has has gone from the authority with the highest infection rate in the Yorkshire and Humber area to the second lowest in three weeks.

However, there is some evidence that Greater Lincolnshire has improved on its own merit, and that is through its average infection rate.

While England has seen a rise in its rate of infection over the last few weeks, Greater Lincolnshire has started to fall gradually.

On December 3, the average infection rate for Greater Lincolnshire was 267, now it is 254.

This fall has led to Greater Lincolnshire escaping tier 4 restrictions for now.

Derek Ward, Director of Public Health for Lincolnshire said: "It's good to see the trends in Lincolnshire going the right way, with infection rates coming down. But let's not be complacent and let things slip as we are a long way from being out of the woods yet.

"We need to get our rates of infection down further in Lincolnshire."

He added: "Remember that the relaxation of the rules was for Christmas Day only, so we must stick to the tier 3 restrictions in place into the New Year and don't mix indoors except with your household or bubble.

"Keep to the hands, face, space guidelines to protect both yourself and others. If you develop any symptoms, no matter how mild, then please isolate yourself and book a test.

He added: "While you wait for the test and the result, please continue isolating to ensure the safety of others."