Latest coronavirus cases show South Ribble has again seen another small rise in its infection rate.

New cases recorded in Preston were 38 for Wednesday (2 December).

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South Ribble saw 22 new coronavirus cases for the same day.

Wyre had 29 new cases, Ribble Valley recorded 20 and Fylde 26.

South Ribble’s infection rate for the seven days to November 28 was 218.4, up from 213 per 100,000 people for the seven days to November 21.

Preston’s infection rate is back up to 200.5 but a week-on-week fall from 271.8 for the same time period. The city had seen an infection rate below 200 for a number of days in the last week.

See the latest coronavirus cases and information near you

Wyre (111.5) and Fylde (136.2) are both below the England average of 154.8 per 100,000 people.

Ribble Valley’s rate is 157.7, down from 200.4.

Preston and Lancashire saw their first day back in tier-3 restrictions, with tight rules on household mixing and non-food pubs and bars remaining closed along with many hospitality and leisure businesses.

Read more: What can and can’t open during tier-3 restrictions in Preston and Lancashire

Prime Minister gives latest update on vaccination roll-out beginning

Boris Johnson led a press conference on Wednesday evening (2 December) to outline how the government was working to roll-out the Pfizer vaccine now it has been approved by medical regulators.

The first place to receive the vaccine ‘from next week’ will be 50 hospitals – including Royal Preston Hospital.

Among the first to receive the vaccine, alongside NHS staff and care home staff, will be those in the over-80s age group and those living in care homes.

The PM outlined how care home vaccination was being made more difficult by the vaccine coming in packs of 975 and needing to be stored at -70 degrees.

More widespread vaccination could be due to begin from January in GP practices and pharmacies.

NHS chief executive NHS chief executive Simon Stevens said: “That will be followed in the subsequent weeks with GP practices coming together in each area to operate local vaccination centres and that will grow to over 1,000 places right across England where GPs will be in touch with their at-risk patients inviting people to come forward for vaccination.

“If the MHRA, the independent regulator, as we expect they will, give approval for a safe way of splitting these packs of 975 doses then the good news is we will be able to start distributing those to care homes.

“And then as even more vaccine becomes available finally we will be able to switch on large vaccination centres across the country and indeed invite local community pharmacists probably at the beginning of January to begin to offer vaccination as well.”

You can watch the full press conference below

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The Prime Minister had a sombre note for hospitality businesses.

He said there would be no relaxation in the rules governing pubs, bars and restaurants during the Christmas period.

He said: “I’m sorry to say we have got to stick with the guidance that we have set out, the tiering system throughout the Christmas period.

“It would be a really fatal mistake now to respond to this good news by letting the virus run riot again, letting it get out of control by too much transmission over Christmas.

“That’s why we have to stick very tightly to the tiers that we have set out.”

Read more: Map shows where the Covid cases in Preston and South Ribble are rising and falling

Mr Johnson also hinted the tier-restrictions were now very likely to last until beyond the expiry date that had been set of early February, due to the length of time a vaccine roll-out would take.

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines