HERE are the latest official statistics on the spread of coronavirus in Warrington.

Data from Public Health England showed that in the week before June 19, the most recent period for which figures are available, a total of 415 positive Covid-19 tests were returned in the town.

This equates to 197.6 cases for every 100,000 residents, the 26th highest rate in the country at present.

By comparison, in the seven days leading up to June 12 there were 338 transmissions detected in the borough – or 160.9 per 100,000.

Warrington was one of 269 local authorities areas in England which saw a rise in cases between these two data, while 43 experienced a fall and three were unchanged.

Blackburn with Darwen continues to have the highest case rate nationally at present, with 519.7 per 100,000.

Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Burnley and Manchester made up the remainder of the top five hotspots.

Only four places outside of the north west – Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Leeds and County Durham – currently have a higher case rate than Warrington.

As of yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, there were 14 coronavirus patients in Warrington Hospital.

Since the start of the pandemic, 2,017 inpatients have been discharged from the Lovely Lane site after receiving treatment for the virus.

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Covid-19 death toll currently stands at 499.