A FURTHER 48 confirmed cases of coronavirus were recorded in Cheshire West and Chester during the latest 24-hour reporting period, according to Government data.

The increase in the period up to 4.01pm today (October 1) brings the total number of cases for the borough since the pandemic began to 2,776.

The number of new cases in the latest 24-hour period is one less than the total in yesterday's update.

The infection rate for Cheshire West and Chester currently stands at more than 60 cases per 100,000 people – which is double the amount from two weeks ago.

The figure of 20 cases per 100,000 is the threshold the UK's governments have used to judge whether returning travellers from foreign countries must endure a 14-day quarantine period.

A tightening of coronavirus restrictions could soon be implemented in the borough after Cheshire West and Chester Council moved to request extra regulations from the government.

Meanwhile, the Countess of Chester Hospital Trust has, to date, not registered a death of a patient testing positive for the virus for more than 10 weeks.

The total number of people who have died in Cheshire hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus stands at 730.

The Countess of Chester Hospital Trust has recorded 227 deaths (last recorded July 18), Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has recorded 214 deaths, the last on August 31; East Cheshire NHS Trust 146 (last recorded July 22), and Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 143 (last recorded September 26).

NHS England recorded a further 44 deaths of people testing positive for the virus, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 30,049.

Patients were aged between 60 and 99 years-old. All had known underlying health conditions.

Date of death ranges from September 18 to 30.