Easter Monday has recorded a further drop in the 7-day case rate, adding hopes that a 'spike' of cases in South Kesteven may be ending.

After more than doubling in recent weeks, the number of cases recorded over a week have headed back down.

In the week to yesterday, the number of cases over 7 days was 158, 179 in the week to Friday, 140 in the week to last Sunday and a low of 80 about three weeks ago.

Today, saw an encouraging 137 cases recorded over the past week, well down on recent days.

This gives a 7-day case rate of 96.2 cases per 100,000, which is more than double the England average of 43.9, which has been consistent in its decline.

Easter Monday saw 14 cases recorded, which compares with 15 over the weekend and 22 last Monday.

This gives a grand total of 7411- about one for every 20 residents.

The number of deaths remained at 265, with South Kesteven recording just lower than the England average of one death with Covid-19 for every 500 residents since the pandemic started.

Overall, there have been 81 coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire, with two COVID-related deaths removed from the tally on Monday.

The government's COVID-19 dashboard on April 5 recorded 45 new cases in Lincolnshire, 23 in North Lincolnshire and 13 in North East Lincolnshire.

On Monday, one death was removed from the figures in Lincolnshire and another in North Lincolnshire. This figure includes deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.

Fluctuations in data can occur for a variety of reasons including corrected data, misdiagnoses or wrong addresses.

NHS England, however, reported no changes to the hospital death figures across the region.

Nationally, cases increased by 2,762 to 4,362,150, while deaths rose by 26 to 126,862.

The latest figures for Greater Lincolnshire follow a 31% drop in cases and 35% fewer deaths last week.

 

The Prime Minister is due to announce that free twice-weekly lateral flow tests will be offered to everyone ahead of further lockdown relaxation.

Plans are also expected to include COVID-19 passports which will be used to allow attendance at mass-audience events including concerts and sports matches.

Boris Johnson should also confirm that next week England will move to step two of the roadmap out of lockdown — the reopening of non-essential retail from April 12.

This includes hairdressers, shops, zoos and pubs and restaurants serving people outside.

Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Monday, April 5

58,390 cases (up 81)

40,748 in Lincolnshire (up 45)

9,117 in North Lincolnshire (up 23)

8,525 in North East Lincolnshire (up 23)

2,173 deaths (down two)

1,604 from Lincolnshire (down one)

304 from North Lincolnshire (no change)

266 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)

of which 1,300 hospital deaths (no change)

808 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) 4,359,388 UK cases, 126,836 deaths