Preston and South Ribble continue to see Covid infection rates fall as NHS app considered as a ‘vaccine passport’ option

Morning sky over Preston on Tuesday 23 February Pic: Tony Worrall

Preston, South Ribble and the majority of Lancashire’s coronavirus infection rates are continuing to decline.

New cases for Tuesday (23 February) showed Preston recorded 44 new cases.

South Ribble saw 24 coronavirus cases for the same day.

Wyre was up by eight, Ribble Valley also was up by eight.

Chorley recorded 23 new cases and Fylde was up by nine cases.

Infection rate data shows Preston’s rate is now 230.6 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to February 19, down from 255.7 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to February 12.

See the latest coronavirus cases and information below

Preston’s rate is listed as the 11th highest infection rate in England.

Data for the most recent four days (February 20-23) has been excluded as it is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.

South Ribble’s infection rate is at 164.3, down from 211.2 – for the same two date periods as Preston.

Ribble Valley’s down to 139.6, from 164.2 and Chorley’s rate is now 149.7, down from 198.8.

Wyre’s rate is 112.4, down from 114.2 and Fylde is 128.7, down from 154.7.

Could NHS Covid app be the digital ‘vaccine passport’?

Ministers are discussing the ethical issues around introducing a vaccine passport.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson made reference to the proposal during his lockdown easing roadmap.

He has now tasked cabinet minister Michael Gove with leading a review into ‘Covid status certificates’.

Customers could be required by venues, such as restaurants, theatres and other hospitality venues, to be shown either a Covid vaccine jab confirmation or a negative test result to permit entry.

See the latest coronavirus vaccine stats and information

The review comes as the Prime Minister said he was “very optimistic” he will be able to fully remove all of England’s restrictions on June 21, but warned “nothing can be guaranteed”.

In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said people should ‘keep an open mind’ about the possibility of vaccine passports.