CHESHIRE East and West have seen more than 140 new Covid-19 cases confirmed in the latest 24-hour figures.

It is the second day in a row where there has been a jump in the daily total across the area, according to Public Health England.

The latest figures cover the 24-hour period up to 9am today, February 10, when there were 74 new coronavirus cases in Cheshire East and 70 in Cheshire West.

That takes Cheshire East’s total to 18,716 since the pandemic began and Cheshire West’s to 19,579.

Today’s figure of 144 across the two boroughs is higher than yesterday’s number of 102 cases, and the 85 cases confirmed on Monday.

Cheshire East’s seven-day infection rate continues to plateau – and having dropped to 183.8 per 100,000 people over the weekend, its rate is currently 185.3 following 712 Covid-19 cases in the seven days up to February 5.

That compares to a rate of 195.5 per 100,000 people one week ago and 257.5 per 100,000 people a fortnight ago.

The trend is more positive for Cheshire West, which has seen its infection rate fall for the sixth day running to its lowest level since December 17.

Cheshire West’s infection rate now stands at 210.5 per 100,000 people, following 722 cases in the seven days up to February 5, compared to 268.5 one week earlier and 358.5 a fortnight ago.