Preston’s coronavirus infection rate heading for 500 per 100,000 people mark as Matt Hancock addresses ‘tier-four’ claims

Looking towards Preston from down by the River Ribble on Monday 26 October Pic: Tony Worrall

Preston went above the 100 mark for new Covid-19 cases once again as the city continues to remain within the grip of tighter coronavirus restrictions.

There were 104 new cases for Monday (26 October).

The city’s coronavirus infection rate has also continued to accelerate with 476.5 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to October 22.

This is up from 392.6 per 100,000 people in the seven days to October 15.

South Ribble was up by 57 new cases and the infection rate for the borough is now 428.7 per 100,000 people for seven days to October 22.

This is up from 324.9 cases per 100,000 people for seven days to October 15.

See the latest coronavirus cases and information near you

The highest infection rate in Lancashire is in Blackburn with Darwen with 755.5 cases per 100,000 people. Blackburn also had the highest daily cases rise on Monday (26 October) with 200 new cases.

Preston and Lancashire are in tier-three restrictions, since October 17, which sees the closure of non-food pubs and bars, tighter rules limiting household mixing and the closure of soft-play centres.

Lancashire’s political leaders accepted a funding settlement of £42million of additional funds from the government to support businesses and communities through the period of tighter restrictions.

How to get out of tier-three and tighter restrictions coming?

Health secretary Matt Hancock appeared on Radio 4 during Monday morning to say the case rate in an area had to come down for any relaxing of the restrictions.

Mr Hancock also said the number of cases in the over-60s was one of the key measures the government was monitoring closely in the confirmed cases.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said it could take up to two weeks for signs the tighter restrictions were working Pic: Twitter

He also appeared on BBC Breakfast to respond to claims of a ‘tier-four’ of restrictions being considered.

The Health Secretary would not rule out further restrictions.

He said: “We’ve always said all along that we take nothing off the table.

“Having said that, we have seen the rise in the number of cases has slowed a bit.

“The problem is it’s still going up, and while it’s still going up we’ve got to act to get it under control.

“We rule nothing out but at the moment the three-tier system is what we’re working to and it’s effective in slowing the growth of this virus but it hasn’t brought this curve to a halt.”

What do you make of the Health secretary’s comments? What do you make of the infection rates? Let us know in the comments below