Preston coronavirus infection rate sees second day of week-on-week rise as government cuts days needed to self-isolate

The Harris and the Flag Market in Preston Pic: Tony Worrall

Preston has seen a second day of a week-on-week rise in the coronavirus infection rate.

The latest daily figures for Friday (11 December) show there were 27 new Covid-19 cases.

South Ribble recorded 19 new cases for the same day.

Wyre had the highest number of new cases in Lancashire for Friday, with 57 confirmed cases.

Fylde recorded 16 new cases and Ribble Valley saw 21 new cases.

The infection rate figure for Preston is now 209.6 cases per 100,000 people, for the seven days to December 7, up from 177.5 per 100,000 people for the seven days to November 30.

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South Ribble’s infection rate continues to drop, at 186.8, down from 202.2.

The England average is now 162.1, with Wyre and Fylde both well below the 100 cases per 100,000 people mark.

Ribble Valley is just below the average for England, with 161 cases.

Coronavirus self-isolation days reduced

The government has confirmed self-isolation guidelines have been changed.

From Monday the number of days needing to self-isolate reduces to 10 days, down from 14 days.

All four chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland agreed to the reduction.

A joint statement said: “After reviewing the evidence, we are now confident that we can reduce the number of days that contacts self-isolate from 14 days to 10.

“People who return from countries which are not on the travel corridor list should also self-isolate for 10 days instead of 14 days.”

Coronavirus testing in Lancashire to be ramped up

Pilot projects of the lateral flow test have been successful in the county.

Lancashire Resilience Forum is expecting to begin wider Covid-19 testing in the communities most affected by coronavirus during the course of next week.

The tests, which can turnaround test results in 30 minutes without the need of a lab, mean the number of people without symptoms who can be tested can increase.