HERE are the latest official statistics on the coronavirus cases in Warrington.

Figures leading up to October 17, show that a total of 1356 new cases were recorded in the town, according to the latest data from Public Health England.

This demonstrates an infection rate of 647.6 cases among every 100,000 residents, which puts Warrington 58th for case rates in the UK.

The previous seven-day period up to October 10 saw 1149 infections recorded at a rate of 548.7.

Data for the most recent four days (October 18-21) has been excluded as it is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.

Of the 377 local areas in the UK, 304 (81 per cent) have seen a week-on-week rise in rates and 73 (19 per cent) have seen a fall.

Blaenau Gwent in Wales has the highest rate in the UK, with 825 new cases in the seven days to October 17 – the equivalent of 1,178.2 per 100,000 people.

Cheltenham in Gloucestershire has the second-highest rate, up from 148.2 to 1,141.0, with 1,324 new cases.

Stroud in Gloucestershire has the third-highest rate, up from 176.2 to 1,080.2, with 1,306 new cases.

In the north west, Copeland tops the rate of infections with 751.0 cases per 100,000 people.

As of yesterday, Thursday, there were 42 patients in Warrington Hospital – including four in intensive care.

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Covid-19 death toll stands at 543.

Since the start of the pandemic, 2,399 inpatients have been discharged from the Lovely Lane site after receiving treatment for the virus.