THE rate of new coronavirus cases in Warrington continues to fall as the town prepares to enter tier two restrictions.

It was announced yesterday, Thursday, that the borough will placed into the middle of three levels of Covid-19 measures once the second national lockdown ends next week.

And Warrington now has the 139th highest rate of positive cases, according to the latest figures from Public Health England.

In the seven days leading up to November 22, 393 new cases were confirmed – 187.1 for every 100,000 residents.

By comparison, in the same period leading up to November 15 there were 557 positive tests – 265.2 per 100,000.

Across England, 283 of 315 areas have seen a fall in the number of infections.

A total of 252 patients at Warrington Hospital who had tested positive for the virus have now died.

The Lovely Lane site currently has 145 coronavirus patients, with 13 of these being in intensive care.

So far, 832 inpatients who contracted Covid-19 have been discharged after receiving treatment.