The 7-day Covid-19 infection rate is back to its lowest level of the year.

The UK government Covid-19 tracker gives the district a weekly rate of 11.2 cases per 100,000 of population, based on 16 cases over the past week.

This is about half the 22.7 case rate recorded last Thursday and less than half the 26.7 recorded the week before.

The district recorded ten cases today, giving a grand total of 7610 since the start of the pandemic, equivalent to just over one case per 20 residents.

South Kesteven's 7-day infection rate is about half the England average of 21.2 cases per 100,000.

Whilst the figures fluctuate, the latest figures remain among the lowest since last year and less than a thirtieth of figures earlier in the year when the weekly rate exceeded 400 cases per 100,000.

The number of deaths has remained at 266 for more than 5 weeks now. 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.

However, Thursday marked the first day in almost a fortnight with a coronavirus death recorded in Greater Lincolnshire, as 50 new cases were reported.

The government's COVID-19 dashboard recorded 36 new cases in Lincolnshire, nine in North Lincolnshire and five in North East Lincolnshire.

One death was reported in Lincolnshire on Thursday. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.

NHS England has also reported one new local hospital death at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, as data is sourced both from the NHS and Gov UK.

National cases increased by 2,874 to 4,455,221, while deaths rose by seven to 127,701.

In local news, more than 40% of the eligible population in Lincolnshire have been given a second dose of a coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest figures.

Data released on Thursday shows altogether 721,787 jabs have been administered in the county between December 8 and May 16 — a further 44,936 in the last week, and 6.21% up on the 42,145 jabs given the week before.

Large COVID-19 community rapid testing sites in Lincoln, Sleaford, Boston and Spalding will close by 8pm on Friday, May 21, due to low numbers of people using the sites and the increased use of home testing kits.

The sites at Sleaford Town Football Club and Skirbeck Community Centre in Boston have recently stood down and the remaining two sites at Four Seasons House in Pinchbeck, Spalding and Sudbrooke Drive Community Centre, Lincoln will also close their doors on Friday.

There are two NHS apps which have different functions, one for your general medical records and COVID vaccination status for travel — and the other for checking into venues for Test and Trace purposes.

In other news, East Lindsey has the highest number of Universal Credit (UC) claimants in Lincolnshire, over 13,000, and has been put down to the coronavirus pandemic affecting the holiday industry in the district's costal areas.

In national headlines, Prince William has received his first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and thanked those involved in the UK's rollout "for everything you've done and continue to do".

The Duke of Cambridge shared an image on Twitter this morning of the moment he received the jab yesterday.

On Tuesday I received my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) May 20, 2021

Britons should "apply common sense" over whether or not they choose to fly to amber list countries, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says.

Since the ban on foreign holidays was lifted on Monday as part of the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, people have been able to enjoy quarantine-free travel to a dozen destinations on the government's green list.

60,319 cases (up 50)

41,886 in Lincolnshire (up 36)

8,732 in North East Lincolnshire (up five)

2,193 deaths (up one)

1,618 from Lincolnshire (up one)

268 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)

of which 1,307 hospital deaths (up one)

814 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (up one)

1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)