Preston and South Ribble’s coronavirus cases and infection rates have continued to climb as we head into the second week of January.

The city saw 119 new confirmed Covid-19 cases during Friday (8 January).

Advertisements

South Ribble was up by 79 cases for the same day.

Wyre recorded 66 cases, Ribble Valley was up by 54 and Fylde recorded 51 cases according to the Public Health England dashboard.

Preston’s infection rate is now 399.6 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to January 4, up from 207.5 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to December 28.

The last four days, January 5-8, are excluded as the cases are often re-allocated or changes by the government.

See the latest coronavirus cases and information near you

South Ribble’s infection rate is now 421.5 cases per 100,000 people, up from 176.9 for the same date periods as Preston.

Wyre is also above 400, now at 426.4 up from 181.1 and Fylde is 309.5 up from 164.6.

Ribble Valley is at 635.6, up from 358 for the same two date periods as Preston.

Read more: Plea for communal worship in Preston to stop during lockdown 3

Highest daily Covid deaths recorded in whole pandemic as third vaccine approved

Another grim milestone has been reached in the pandemic as the UK recorded the highest daily deaths from coronavirus in the pandemic.

1,325 people died within 28-days of a positive Covid-19 test – higher than any day in the Spring 2020 first wave.

Meanwhile the US-developed Moderna vaccine has been given the green light to be rolled out.

This gives three Covid-fighting vaccines alongside the Pfizer/BioNTech and the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines.

See where the Covid-19 vaccine is being rolled out near you

Up to two-thirds of new Covid-19 cases could be the new variant of the disease, new figures are showing.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) has estimated 61 per cent of new cases in England could be the new coronavirus variant.

Identified in mid-December the new strain is ‘more transmissable’ according to scientists and has been pointed to as the reason for lockdown 3.

Read more: What can and can’t open in Preston and Lancashire during lockdown 3

Advertisements

And Professor Chris Whitty is fronting a new nationwide TV-campaign urging the public to stay at home.

The government’s chief medical officer will appear in the TV advert.

Prof Whitty says: “Covid-19, especially the new variant, is spreading quickly across the country.

“This puts many people at risk of serious disease and is placing a lot of pressure on our NHS.

“Once more, we must all stay home. If it’s essential to go out, remember: wash your hands, cover your face indoors and keep your distance from others.”

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines