A SLIGHT rise in the number of new coronavirus cases was recorded in the town in the latest figures from Public Health England.

In total, 73 positive tests were returned in Warrington the seven days leading up to April 9 – the most recent period for which data is available.

This is a rate of 34.8 infections for every 100,000 residents, the 65th highest level in the country.

By comparison, 63 new Covid cases were recorded in statistics for the previous day while in the week before April 2 there were 70 transmissions – or 33.3 per 100,000.

Warrington was one of 40 local authority areas in England to record a rise in cases in the latest numbers, while 264 saw a fall and 11 remained unchanged.

As of yesterday afternoon, Tuesday, Warrington Hospital had 26 coronavirus patients – including three in intensive care.

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Covid-19 death toll currently stands at 495.

But 1,948 patients have been discharged from the Lovely Lane site after receiving treatment for the virus since the start of the pandemic.