WARRINGTON has the 79th highest rate of new coronavirus cases in England according to the latest data.

The most recently available figures from Public Health England showed that there were 1,566 positive Covid-19 tests in the town in the seven days leading up to January 9.

This represents 745.7 transmissions for every 100,000 residents.

By comparison, there were 1,412 new cases in the week before January 2 – or 672.3 per 100,000.

Of the 315 areas in England, 154 – or 49 per cent - saw a rise in case rates while 50 per cent recorded a fall and two were unchanged.

As of Wednesday afternoon, there were 204 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 342.