Although more than 300 new positive cases of Covid have once again been confirmed across Cheshire East and West in the last 24 hours, the overall infection rate continues to fall.

New figures from Public Health England cover the period up until Tuesday, January 19.

In Cheshire West, including Northwich and Winsford, there were 200 new cases in that time – taking the borough’s

total to 16,820 since the pandemic started.

In Cheshire East, including Knutsford and Middlewich, there were 124 new cases in the 24 hours up to 9am today –

taking the borough’s total to 16,280 cases since the pandemic began.

It means that in total across the two boroughs, there were 324 positive cases of Covid, significantly lower than the 458 cases confirmed in last Tuesday's data.

Meanwhile, the seven-day infection rate for both boroughs continues to fall from the post-Christmas peak, according

to Public Health England.

In Cheshire West, the rate now stands at 450.6 per 100,000 people, following 1,546 cases in the week up to January 14.

That is lower than the rate of 462.3 per 100,000 people in yesterday’s figures and 553.3 per 100,000 people one week earlier.

In Cheshire East, the rate now stands at 323.3 per 100,000 people, following 1,242 cases in the week up to January 14.

That is lower than the rate of 329.8 per 100,000 people in yesterday’s figures, 438.9 per 100,000 people one week earlier and 411 per 100,000 people a fortnight ago.