Ten cases of Covid-19 were recorded in South Kesteven today.

The number stabilises the district's 7-day case rate after a significant fall over the weekend.

The numbers come as national figures were their best in months.

South Kesteven now has 6906 recorded cases- equivalent to about one-in-20 of the population.

The number of deaths increased by two today to 263- equivalent to about one-in-500 of the population.

In the week to today, some 84 cases have recorded in the district (up one on yesterday), giving a 7-day case rate of 59, which compares to the England average of 66.

Overall, there have been 122 new coronavirus cases and two COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Monday.

The government's COVID-dashboard on Monday recorded 67 new cases in Lincolnshire, 20 in North East Lincolnshire and 35 in North Lincolnshire.

Two COVID-related deaths were registered, with one in Lincolnshire and one in North East Lincolnshire. These include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.

NHS England also reported three new local hospital deaths – two at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and one at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole.

National cases increased by 4,712 to 4,223,232 while deaths rose by 65 to 124,566, record lows since September 2020.

In other news, England's lockdown easing started on Monday, with children returning to school, care home residents being allowed to hold hands with a visitor, and two people from different households able to meet outdoors.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson earlier in the day said the "largest mass testing programme we have ever seen in this country" was taking place in England's schools.

Staff and pupils are now recommended to wear masks everywhere in school, including in the classroom.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a press conference, said it had been an "emotional day for millions of families up and down the country" and that there was an overwhelming "feeling of relief".

He said a "greater risk" would be keeping children out of school "a day longer".

He called the latest measures the "crucial first step" on the government's "cautious, but irreversible roadmap to freedom".

He noted that more than one third of the entire UK population has now been vaccinated and said that meant they could take the step "with caution".

People aged 56 to 59 in the East Midlands, including across Greater Lincolnshire, are being invited to book their life-saving coronavirus vaccination this week.

Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Monday, March 8

8,225 in North Lincolnshire (up 35)

300 from North Lincolnshire (no change)

41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)

431 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up one)

4,223,232 UK cases, 124,566 deaths