South Kesteven has recorded 41 cases of Covid-19 today, with the 7-day rate dropping by almost a third over the past week.

The 41 positive tests follows 40 yesterday, 54 on Wednesday, 80 last Friday and 81 the Friday before.

The current weekly infection rate of 231.5 cases per 100,000 people is the lowest since early August and almost a third lower than a week ago.

It compares with 231.8 cases per 100,000 of population yesterday, 243 on Wednesday, 335.1 last Friday and 370.7 two weeks ago.

With its fluctuations, South Kesteven now has a lower 7-day infection rate than Lincolnshire's 293.1 and lower than England's 285.9, both of which have been far more consistent than the district and are also heading back down.

Overall, since the pandemic started, South Kesteven has recorded 12,373 positive tests - about one case for each 12 residents. Again, this is better than the England average, which is about one case for every 9 people.

The figures come amid much testing, currently running around 1.1 million a day or 7 million over a week nationally.

There were no Covid-related deaths recorded today, but there was one on Wednesday, one on Monday, one on Monday, one last Thursday, one last Tuesday and one the weekend before.

The five September fatalities compare with ten in August.

Prior to the August and September deaths, South Kesteven reported such fatalities on May 5 and March 25, making it 15 Covid related deaths in over 5 months.

It means since the pandemic started, official government figures record 285 fatalities in South Kesteven within 28 days of a positive test for Covid-19.

The total amounts to 199 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, there have been 3,141 cases of coronavirus confirmed so far this week in Greater Lincolnshire, as the government announces major overhauls to travel abroad, including the scrapping of the traffic light system.

Government figures on Friday showed 288 new cases in Lincolnshire, 78 in North East Lincolnshire and 87 in North Lincolnshire. The total weekly figure so far is 16% higher than last week's 2,714.

Three further deaths of Greater Lincolnshire residents were confirmed in the government figures, leaving the weekly total at 19, almost double compared to the 10 for last week.

NHS data, meanwhile, confirmed four further deaths across both Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire hospitals. The weekly total of 12 is five more than last week's seven.

Nationally, the rolling cases total increased by 32,651 to 7,371,301 while deaths rose by 178 to 134,983.

NHS bosses in Lincolnshire are preparing for the roll out of the covid booster vaccinations for people aged 50 and over.

In line with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's advice, those eligible to receive a booster include:

• those living in residential care homes for older adults
• all adults aged 50 years or over
• frontline health and social care workers
• all those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 complications, and their adult carers
• adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals

Rebecca Neno, director of covid and influenza vaccination programmes for NHS Lincolnshire, said: "We are now waiting for final operational guidance and legal frameworks to come through, which should allow us to begin offering booster vaccinations from the middle of next week, as well as third doses to those people who are immunosuppressed."

Those able to receive the booster will be given a Pfizer vaccination, irrespective of which one they have previously had and will need to be at least six months past their second dose.

Residents are being told not to contact the NHS or GP practices, who will be in touch when the patient's turn comes round.

Elsewhere walk-in opportunities are available to people aged 16 and over on a 'first come, first served' basis for first and second vaccinations, as follows:

PRSA MVC, Boston – offering Pfizer and AZ walk-ins, first and second doses, 8.30am-7pm seven days a week. AZ only available Tuesdays.

Lincolnshire Showground MVC – offering Pfizer and AZ walk-ins, first and second doses, 8.30am-7pm seven days a week, AZ only available Wednesdays.

Boston Market Place – offering Pfizer first and second doses, 8.30am-3.30pm, Saturday, September 18

The Table Tennis Club, Meres Leisure Centre, Grantham – offering Pfizer and AZ walk-ins, first and second doses, 9.30am-12pm Saturday, September 18 (and every Saturday morning until the end of October).

Storehouse, Skegness – offering AZ and Pfizer walk-ins, first and second doses, 9am-4.30pm, Saturday and Sunday, September 18 and 19

Marisco Medical Practice, Mablethorpe – offering AZ and Pfizer walk-ins, first and second doses, 9am-4.30pm Sunday, September 19.

Nationally, the government has announced measures to simplify and relax a number of restrictions on foreign travel on Friday.

The Department for Transport announcement saw the scrapping of the requirement for double-jabbed people returning to the UK to get PCR tests, from the end of October.

Meanwhile, the 'traffic light' system for overseas travel will also be simplified from October 4, with the green and amber list removed entirely – leaving only a red 'no go' list.

A number of destinations including Turkey, Pakistan, The Maldives, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Oman, Bangladesh and Kenya have been removed from the red list.

Mr Shapps said: "Today's changes mean a simpler, more straightforward system. One with less testing and lower costs, allowing more people to travel, see loved ones or conduct business around the world while providing a boost for the travel industry.

"Public health has always been at the heart of our international travel policy and with over 44 million people fully vaccinated in the UK, we are now able to introduce a proportionate updated structure that reflects the new landscape."

Elsewhere, England's 'R' number continues to remain stable at 0.9 to 1.1. The number, which represents how many people an infected person will pass the virus to on average, has been around the same mark for a couple of weeks now.

The Office for National Statistics has said that around one in 80 people in England is estimated to have had coronavirus in the week to September 11.

The figure is down from one in 70 the previous week and is the equivalent of about 697,100 people.

Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Friday, September 17

16,705 in North Lincolnshire (up 87)

316 from North Lincolnshire (no change)

44 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)

494 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up two)