South Kesteven's -7-day infection rate has bounced back up after the district recorded 72 Covid-19 cases today.

This compares with 62 positive tests recorded yesterday, 68 on Monday and 118 over the weekend.

Last Wednesday, 78 cases were recorded, compared with 87 the Wednesday before and 51 the Wednesday before that.

The 7-day rate has risen from 307 cases per 100,000 of population yesterday, to 351.2 today. This is the first increase since it reached a peak of 370.7 last Friday.

This compares with 366.6 last Wednesday, 318.2 the Wednesday before and 300.9 the Wednesday before that.

With its fluctuations, South Kesteven now has a higher 7-day infection rate than both Lincolnshire's 331.6 and England's 312.9, whose growth has been slower but more consistent, though the national figure peaked at 332 on Friday before declining since.

Overall, since the pandemic started, South Kesteven has recorded 11,523 positive tests - about one case for each 12 residents. Again, this is better than the England average, which is just over one case for every ten people.

The figures come amid much testing, currently running around 920,000 a day or 5.7 million over a week nationally.

No deaths were recorded yesterday, but there two covid-related death over the bank holiday weekend- the tenth fatality this month.

One on Bank Holiday Monday followed one recorded on Saturday-Sunday, two on Thursday, and one last Tuesday, making it five in a week.

There was also one Covid-linked fatality the previous Friday, one the Monday before the Friday and one the weekend prior to that.

With fatalities also recorded on August 1 and August 3, the number of deaths with Covid in the district is now 10 in this month alone.

Before these latest fatalities, the previous Covid-related deaths in the district were reported on May 5 and March 25, giving us 12 deaths in about 5 months.

It means since the pandemic started, official government figures record 280 fatalities in South Kesteven within 28 days of a positive test for Covid-19.

The total amounts to 195.5 deaths per 100,000, which is equivalent to one fatality for just over 500 residents.

The England average is one death for just under 500 residents.

Meanwhile, Greater Lincolnshire's case numbers have shown a continued drop since reaching their highest peak of the pandemic on July 15, with a 10% month-on-month reduction in August.

The latest data from the government's COVID website show 459 new cases of coronavirus on September 1, with 311 in Lincolnshire, 71 in North East Lincolnshire and 77 in North Lincolnshire.

The figures showed three further deaths of Greater Lincolnshire residents in government figures. NHS figures, also showed two further deaths at the region's hospitals, with one at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and one at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Trust.

Nationally, cases increased by 35,693 to 6,825,074 on Wednesday, while deaths rose by 207 to 132,742.

Data from the government's website, which is often subject to change after daily figures are revealed, shows that Greater Lincolnshire officially reached its highest peak on July 19 with 953 cases.

That month saw a grand total of 17,862 cases confirmed – more than three-and-a-half times June's 3,836 case total.

August, however, saw a 10.32% drop in the tally, confirming 16,018 cases so far.

The data also reveals when each council peaked since the start of the pandemic, with East Lindsey seeing a peak of 173 cases on November 16 last year, while Lincoln reached 156 cases on July 28 this year.

South Kesteven – which has seen the most cases cumulatively at a grand total of 11,451 – appears to have had a consistent rise in cases since peaking on December 29 at 120 cases and taking the lead through mid-late January.

Meanwhile, the mass vaccination centre at Lincolnshire Showground will temporarily close for three days this weekend due to a pre-arranged event being hosted at the venue.

The centre, which has the capacity for 1,000 jabs a day, will be unable to open between Friday, September 3 and Sunday, September 5.

Between these dates Lincolnshire Showground is hosting two events – Kustom Kulture Blast Off and The British Riding Club NAF Five Star National Championships.

NHS Lincolnshire CCG said it will be contacting all patients who had appointments booked for these three days. They will be offered the opportunity to rearrange their appointment for another day at Lincolnshire Showground or to attend one of the other vaccination sites, or patients can rebook themselves online.

NHS Lincolnshire CCG said it will be contacting all patients who had appointments booked for these three days. They will be offered the opportunity to rearrange their appointment for another day at Lincolnshire Showground or to attend one of the other vaccination sites, or patients can rebook themselves online.

Nationally, health bosses have confirmed booster jabs will be given to those aged 12 and over with severely weakened immune systems.

It follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: "We know people with specific conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 may have received less protection against the virus from two vaccine doses. I am determined to ensure we are doing all we can to protect people in this group and a third dose will help deliver that.

"The NHS will contact people as soon as possible to discuss their needs and arrange an appointment for a third dose where clinically appropriate"

Boston's own Professor Jonathan Van Tam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, added: "We know there are people with severe immunosuppression for whom the first two doses of vaccine have not provided the same level protection as for the general population. The degree of protection will vary by individual, according to degree of immunosuppression and the underlying reasons for that.

"We should be doing all we reasonably can to ensure that this group is not disadvantaged and a third primary dose is one step in this direction. We are also working hard to ensure there are other medical interventions that can be used in these groups, including specific treatments like antivirals and monoclonal antibodies."

Reports suggest that vaccines for young people aged 12-15 in general are being delayed in order to launch the booster campaign.

Sky News has reported that sources close to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has said vulnerable groups may be prioritised first.

The Office for National Statistics said that the week ending August 20 saw nearly 1,200 more deaths registered in the UK than expected at this time of year.

98,822 cases (up 459)

64,836 in Lincolnshire (up 311)

18,721 in North East Lincolnshire (up 71)

2,278 deaths (up three)

1,671 from Lincolnshire (up one)

295 from North East Lincolnshire (up one)

of which 1,369 hospital deaths (up two)

844 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (up one)

1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)