South Kesteven has now gone 4 weeks without a Covid-related fatality as the district records just three more cases today.

The figures comes as the UK records just 4 Covid-related deaths today, following two such deaths yesterday and 5 across the UK on Saturday.

England recorded zero deaths today, for the first time since July.

Today's three cases in South Kesteven compare with five over the weekend, six last Monday and two the Monday before.

Overall, 38 cases have been recorded in the past week, compared with 29 the previous week and 34 the week before that.

This gives South Kesteven a 7-day infection rate of 26.7 cases per 100,000, which is just above the England average of 21.4.

This is the same as yesterday and up on the 20.4 recorded last Monday, but they do fluctuate from day-to-day.

Either way, the latest figures remain among the lowest since last year and around a twentieth of figures earlier in the year when the weekly rate exceeded 400 cases per 100,000.

Overall, South Kesteven has seen 7590 recorded cases since the start of the pandemic- which is about one for every 20 residents.

The number of deaths has remained at 266 for 4 weeks. 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.

Overall, there have been 40 coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire but no COVID-related deaths reported on Monday.

The government's COVID-19 dashboard recorded 24 new cases in Lincolnshire, 10 in North Lincolnshire and six in North East Lincolnshire. Greater Lincolnshire has now surpassed 60,000 cases since the pandemic started.

No coronavirus deaths were registered on Monday. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.

NHS England reported no hospital deaths on Monday across Greater Lincolnshire, for the third day in a row.

On Monday, national cases increased by 2,357 to 4,437,217, while deaths rose by four to 127,609.

In local news, up to May 7, 19 Lincolnshire schools reported 29 positive COVID-19 test results and between April 26 and May 2, 46,406 lateral flow tests were carried out via schools, of which 55 were positive.

Andy Fox, assistant director of public health, said: "Schools continue to take measures to limit the potential spread of the virus and will inform parents of positive cases where necessary."

He added: "However, in some cases, the person testing positive may have already been out of school, meaning there is no impact on other pupils or staff."

In the last five days, Greater Lincolnshire's average infection rate has fallen along with the England average also.

However, North Lincolnshire remains in the top 10 highest rates and South Holland, Boston, South Kesteven and Lincoln have all seen slight increases.

East Lindsey and North East Lincolnshire have the same rates as they did five days ago. The other districts have seen decreases in their infections.

In national news, the UK's coronavirus alert level is being lowered from four to three on the advice of experts.

Level three means COVID-19 is still circulating amongst the population but is not rising exponentially.

The chief medical officers for England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales said the decision to downgrade was thanks to the efforts of the UK public in bringing COVID rates down.

Boris Johnson has confirmed a major easing of COVID-19 restrictions in England will go ahead from next week.

These include indoor mixing with other households and eating and drinking inside restaurants and pubs.

Most legal restrictions on meeting others outdoors will be lifted – although gatherings of over 30 people will remain illegal. Indoors, the rule of six or two households will still apply, and maintaining a distance is advised.

Pubs, restaurants, cinemas and other venues will be able to operate indoors and foreign holidays will also not be restricted any more, with the introduction of the traffic light system.

University students will be able to have face-to-face lessons so long as they are tested twice a week and care home named visitors will increase from two to five.

College and secondary school students will also not be required to wear face coverings in communal areas.

Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions and wakes, as well as funerals — and this will also apply to other types of events including bar mitzvahs and christenings.

Step four will not begin until at least June 21, where all limits on social contact are set to be lifted and all remaining premises, including nightclubs, will be able to open.

More information can be found on the government website.

In Monday's Downing Street Press Conference, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "Today we are announcing the single biggest step on our roadmap, and it will allow us to do many of the things that we've yearned to do for a long time."

He added: "We remain on track to move to step four, on June 21."

Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Monday, May 10

9,639 in North Lincolnshire (up 10)

307 from North Lincolnshire (no change)

41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)

451 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)

4,437,217 UK cases, 127,609 deaths