Sixty-four recorded 'cases' have today pushed the 7-day case rate in South Kesteven to its highest in months- but fortunately it also remains months since the district recorded a fatality.

Nationally, however, the 96 deaths is the highest since March.

South Kesteven has gone almost 11 weeks without a death with Covid-19. The total remains at 270, with the last fatality related to the virus in the district being on Wednesday May 5.

The last fatality priority to that was Tuesday March 25, showing South Kesteven has experienced just two deaths with Covid-19 in more than 15 weeks.

However, the 7-day case rate in South Kesteven has continued rising, with it almost doubling over the past week.

The 64 positive tests today compares with 76 yesterday and 134 the weekend. Last Tuesday saw 60 recorded cases and 44 the Tuesday before that.

Overall, there have been 8842 cases in South Kesteven since the start of the pandemic- equivalent to about one for about 16 residents in the district.

The 7-day rate is now 300.5 cases per 100,000- meaning one-in-350 will have tested positive with the virus over the past week- compared 173.4 in the week to last Monday and 96.9 the Tuesday before.

However, despite the sharp increases, it remains well below the England average of 473.5 cases per 100,000.

The England average 7-day rate has steadily risen in recent weeks, while the South Kesteven figure has tended to fluctuate at a much reduced level before creeping upwards.

The figures come as testing has been ramped up significantly across the country, with 1.1 million tests taking place on Monday and 7.2 million over the past week.

Overall, today saw 626 cases of coronavirus and three COVID deaths in Greater Lincolnshire .

The government's COVID-19 dashboard on Tuesday reported 365 new cases in Lincolnshire, 185 in North East Lincolnshire and 76 in North Lincolnshire.

The number is nearly 10% lower than last Tuesday's 684 cases.

NHS England has reported no new deaths in hospital figures across the Greater Lincolnshire region.

However, government figures, which include deaths both inside and out of hospital as well as the deaths of Lincolnshire residents outside of the county, recorded two further deaths in Lincolnshire and one in North East Lincolnshire.

Lincolnshire has "probably got more COVID circulating in the population than we've ever had" health bosses have said.

Infection rates in Greater Lincolnshire for the seven days up to July 19 continue to show increases across the board with North East Lincolnshire remaining as the highest with a rate of 960.7 per 100,000 population.

It comes as people in the north of the county have been advised to avoid A&E departments in Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Goole as high demand caused significant delays.

The Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust told patients not to attend A&E unless "absolutely necessary" and to consider alternative options for minor ailments, such as GPs or pharmacies.

Meanwhile, growing numbers of revellers and nightclub industry professionals have shown anger at plans to require double vaccination proof at venue doors.

In Lincolnshire, people have accused the government of blackmail and "closing the stable door after the horse has bolted."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday that the measure could come into force in September amid rising cases in younger people.

Nationally on Tuesday, cases increased by 46,558 to 5,519,602 while deaths rose by 96 to 128,823 – the highest number since March 24.

Nationally, Downing Street has said those who are "pinged" by the COVID app must self-isolate.

However, the app has always been voluntary to download and alerts are advisory.

It follows hundreds of thousands of pings being sent out over recent days, resulting in people self-isolating and missing work.

However, the government has ruled out a "critical workers" list and told employers they must apply for any exemptions to the rules.

Elsewhere, further revelations from the PM's former advisor have alleged Mr Johnson sent WhatsApp messages saying he no longer believed "all this NHS overwhelmed stuff."

In an interview with BBC's political editor Laura Kuennsberg to be aired Tuesday night, Dominic Cummings claimed Mr Johnson was reluctant to enact the second lockdown as most people dying were "essentially all over 80".

Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Tuesday, July 20

11,634 in North Lincolnshire (up 76)

302 from North Lincolnshire (no change)

43 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)

456 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)

5,519,602 UK cases, 128,823 deaths