The latest coronavirus cases and infection rates for Preston and South Ribble have been released.

Preston’s new Covid-19 cases for Monday (21 December) were at 33.

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South Ribble recorded 41 new cases for the same day.

Wyre was up by 19, Ribble Valley saw 36 new cases and Fylde at 27.

Preston’s infection rate is now 250.1 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to December 17, compared to 214.5 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to December 10.

See the latest coronavirus cases and information near you

South Ribble’s rate is continuing to fall, now 179.6 compared to 188.6.

Fylde has the lowest rate in Lancashire with 94.1 cases per 100,000 people.

Wyre is at 137.4, uip from 126.7.

Ribble Valley is 233.2, up from 213.5.

All areas are below the England average which is now 299.2 cases per 100,000 people.

Read more: Christmas restrictions for Lancashire confirmed

‘Wider lockdown’ looms

The government’s chief scientific advisor has indicated tougher coronavirus restrictions are likely to be needed in more parts of the country.

Sir Patrick Valance said: “The evidence on this virus is that it spreads easily, it’s more transmissible, we absolutely need to make sure we have the right level of restrictions in place.

“I think it is likely that this will grow in numbers of the variant across the country and I think it’s likely, therefore, that measures will need to be increased in some places, in due course, not reduced.”

London and large parts of the South East entered tier-4 restrictions due to the rapidly growing number of cases – caused by a ‘mutation’ in the virus bringing a new strain that appears to be easier to transmit.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation during a Monday afternoon press conference after France, and a number of other countries across the world, closed their borders to the UK – to try and halt the spread of the new Covid mutation.

You can see the full press conference below

Mr Johnson said the Covid-19 vaccination programme had now seen 500,000 people receive their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

See the coronavirus vaccine hubs near you

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He said the priority list was being stuck to – despite calls for vaccinations in the South East of England to be ramped up due to spiralling Covid-19 infection rates there.

Read more: See how Covid-19 infection rates have changed for Preston and South Ribble

In Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen’s director of public health has raised concerns about people arriving in the area from tier-4 areas in the last week and warned they should self-isolate for five days. His warning was also issued by directors of public health in Greater Manchester and in the West Midlands.

Sir Patrick Vallance said local health directors needed to make ‘decisions’ to look after their local populations.

He said: “The message has been very clear and, I think I want to reinforce it, is stay local.

“I mean, people shouldn’t be travelling around the country at the moment.”

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines