THE number of new coronavirus cases recorded in Warrington has dropped by around 30 per cent in a week.

According to the latest data from Public Health England, 703 positive Covid-19 tests were returned in the borough in the seven days before July 29 – the most recent period for which figures are available.

This equates to 334.7 infections for every 100,000 residents, the 55th highest rate in the country.

By comparison, in the week leading up to July 22 there were 1,088 new cases in the town – or 518.1 per 100,000.

Warrington was one of 306 local authority areas in England to record a drop in case numbers between these two dates, while nine saw a rise.

Lincoln currently has the highest case rate nationally with 653.6 per 100,000.

Placed in third with 516.3 per 100,000, Blackpool was the north west’s top hotspot for transmissions.

As of yesterday afternoon, Monday, Warrington Hospital had 23 coronavirus patients – including four in intensive care.

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Covid-19 death toll currently stands at 510.

Since the start of the pandemic, 2,114 inpatients have been discharged from the Lovely Lane site after receiving treatment for the virus.