THE number of positive Covid cases across Cheshire East has surpassed 20,000 since the pandemic began but the rate of infection continues to fall.

In data released by Public Health England, covering the last 24 hour period up to 9am today, March 8, there have been 30 new cases, taking the overall total in Cheshire East to 20,033.

Cheshire West recorded the exact same number of new cases, with its total since the pandemic began being 20,890.

On the day children returned to schools across both boroughs, encouragingly, infection rates continues to fall, with Cheshire East's standing at 69 per 100,000 people, after 265 new cases in the seven day period up to March 3.

In Cheshire West, the rate is only marginally higher at 70.5 per 100,000 after 242 cases in the same seven day period.

These figures are the lowest they have been since September and represent a substantial fall from the January 4 peak.

With the vaccine roll-out continuing at pace, the total number of people in the UK who have now had the first dose stands at 22,377,255 while more than one million have also received their second dose.