There have been 316 new coronavirus cases and 31 COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Wednesday.

The government's COVID-19 dashboard recorded 230 new cases in Lincolnshire, 58 in North Lincolnshire and 28 in North East Lincolnshire.

Among the districts, South Kesteven reported 31 new cases today, putting it on 3002 since the pandemic started, equivalent to 2107.8 cases per 100,000.

This means effectively that one in 50 people in South Kesteven has contracted the virus according to official government figures since the pandemic started.

The weekly rate increased today from 246 cases to 260 or 182.6 per 100,000, up from 172.7 per 100,000.

The number of deaths in South Kesteven increased 2 today to 100.

On Wednesday, 29 deaths were registered in Lincolnshire and two in North East Lincolnshire. No deaths were recorded in North Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.

NHS England reported 13 new local hospital deaths on Wednesday, including 10 at United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust and three at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG). NLAG has now hit 300 hospital deaths since the start of the pandemic.

On Wednesday, national cases increased by 25,161 to 1,913,277, while deaths rose by 612 to 65,520.

Most Lincolnshire NHS staff will not receive the COVID-19 vaccine until the end of March 2021, according to hospital bosses. 1,200 high risk staff will receive the jab in January.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust had a total of 204 COVID-19 patients as of Tuesday, with 126 at Lincoln and 78 at Boston Pilgrim. The total moved up by one to 205 during the morning of Wednesday, December 16.

40 members of staff are currently absent from William Farr C of E Comprehensive School in Welton, with three year groups of students also sent home for remote learning after an increase in coronavirus cases.

Some 15 schools across Lincolnshire have recorded positive cases of COVID-19 in either staff or students in the last seven days.

The current rate of infection in school age children in Lincolnshire is 177 cases per 100,000 over the last seven days, which is lower than the rate of 231 cases per 100,000 for all ages.

In national news, a relaxation of coronavirus rules over Christmas will still go ahead despite calls for them to be toughened, the four UK nations have agreed.

However, PM Boris Johnson said in his Downing Street briefing: "Have yourself a merry little Christmas and I'm afraid this year, I do mean little," urging England to have a smaller and shorter festive period to be safe.

The announcement on tiers has been delayed until Thursday — but Greater Lincolnshire is expected to stay in tier 3.

Over 137,000 people received the coronavirus Pfizer vaccine in the UK last week, 108,000 of the jabs were given in England.

Wales will move to alert level 4 and go into lockdown on December 28. It will begin shutting services on Christmas Eve, while advising people to reduce the number of households meeting over the festive period.

Meanwhile in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon said: "The safest way to spend Christmas this year is within your own household and within your own home."

Five Greater Lincolnshire authorities are now below the national average infection rate of 196.3, however, five authorities have also seen increases in their infection rates.

32,001 cases (up 316)

20,936 in Lincolnshire (up 230)

5,651 in North East Lincolnshire (up 28)

1,216 deaths (up 31)

832 from Lincolnshire (up 29)

186 from North East Lincolnshire (up two)

of which 726 hospital deaths (up 13)

411 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (up 10)

1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)