These were the latest confirmed coronavirus cases over the weekend as we also take a look at the trend with the Covid-19 infection rates for Preston and South Ribble.

During Saturday (19 December) Preston saw 56 new coronavirus cases, the highest daily increase of anywhere in Lancashire.

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South Ribble was up by 32 cases for the same day.

Wyre recorded 26 new cases, Fylde up by 10 and Ribble Valley just six new cases.

See the latest coronavirus cases and information near you

On Sunday (20 December) the city saw 76 new Covid-19 cases, one of the largest daily increases in recent weeks.

South Ribble was up by 24 cases, Wyre recorded 17 new cases, Ribble Valley 31 and Fylde up by 18.

How infection rates are changing

Preston is seeing a slow, but steady, increase in the infection rate since the end of November.

South Ribble on the other hand is continuing a steady decline in the infection rate.

You can see how the rates are tracking in the chart below, or you can use this link.

Both the city, and the borough, are below the average infection rate for England.

‘Out of control’ – Health secretary

Health secretary Matt Hancock has admitted the new strain of coronavirus, detected as rising rapidly in London and the South East, is ‘out of control’.

The new variant is understood to be up to 70 per cent more transmissable than the original coronavirus.

The government during Saturday (19 December) slashed the Christmas easing of restrictions to just one day, Christmas Day, for three households to meet, in most parts of England.

Read more: Prime Minister scraps Christmas rules and introduces one-day indoor meet up on Christmas Day

However because of the high amount of cases in the South East, a new tier of restrictions, tier-4, was introduced – essentially putting the South East back into measures similar to the second national lockdown. No Christmas bubbles are allowed in the areas under tier-4 restrictions.

Mr Hancock indicated tougher restrictions may now be in place ‘for months’ until the vaccine roll-out has gone further.

Meanwhile Public Health England’s Dr Susan Hopkins has warned the new strain of Covid-19 is spreading outside of London and the South East.

She said many regions now had cases of the new strain but in much smaller numbers than in the South East of England.

Dr Hopkins said: “We know it’s in other parts of the country in small amounts but what we are trying to do is prevent more spread and rapid increases across the rest of the country.”

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