NEARLY 1,700 new cases of coronavirus were recorded in Warrington in the first seven days of 2021.

The latest figures published by Public Health England showed that there were a total of 1,695 positive Covid-19 tests in the town in the seven days leading up to January 8.

This equates to 807.1 cases for every 100,000 residents, the 75th highest rate in the country.

By comparison, there were 1,197 transmissions in the week leading up to January 1 – or 570 per 100,000.

Of the 315 areas in England, 225 – or 71 per cent – saw a rise in case rates in the latest statistics.

Knowsley had the biggest week-on-week increase in the country, with Halton, Liverpool, Sefton and St Helens completing the top five rises.

As of Tuesday afternoon, there were 194 coronavirus inpatients at Warrington Hospital – including 26 in intensive care.

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Covid-19 death toll now stands at 340.

Meanwhile, 1,194 patients who had tested positive have been discharged since the start of the pandemic.