Preston and South Ribble’s coronavirus infection rates have begun to rise again as we enter a third national lockdown.

New confirmed cases for the city for Monday (4 January) showed 64 new cases.

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South Ribble saw 57 new coronavirus cases for the same day.

Wyre had 54 new cases, Fylde just 18 and Ribble Valley recorded 52 new cases.

Latest coronavirus infection rates show Preston’s rate is now 306 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to December 31, up from 229.2 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to December 24.

The data is taken from the Public Health England dashboard and looks at the last seven days from four days ago, as test results are often amended or re-assigned in the first 48-hours.

South Ribble’s rate is now 302.4, up from 194.1 – for the same date periods as Preston.

Read more: Preston City Council leader reacts to new national lockdown

Both the city and the borough are back above where the rates were in mid-November.

See how the rates have changed in Preston and South Ribble since late November. If you can’t see the chart below, click here.

Wyre is now at 314.9, up from 174.9 and Fylde has a rate of 243.9 up from 177.

Ribble Valley’s infection rate has continued to rise rapidly, now at 496 up from 363.

See the latest coronavirus cases and information for where you live

National lockdown returns

The Prime Minister announced England would move into a national lockdown until ‘at least mid-February’.

Schools and colleges are to be closed until the February half-term, and universities told to teach remotely.

These are the toughest lockdown measures since the March 2020 lockdown.

Mr Johnson said in a televised address: “As I speak to you tonight, our hospitals are under more pressure from Covid than at any time since the start of the pandemic.

“The weeks ahead will be the hardest yet but I really do believe that we’re entering the last phase of the struggle, because with every jab that goes into our arms we’re tilting the odds against Covid and in favour of the British people.”

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines