Preston’s coronavirus infection rate has fallen of out the England top 10 for highest infection rates.

The latest figures come as the Prime Minister said he could not rule out a fourth national lockdown if it was needed.

New daily Covid-19 confirmed cases were some of the lowest daily totals seen in recent months.

Preston recorded 24 confirmed coronavirus cases for Monday (15 February).

South Ribble saw 22 new cases for the same day.

See the latest coronavirus cases and information near you

Wyre was up by 27 cases, Ribble Valley up by just two, Fylde up by 14 and Chorley recorded 24 new cases.

Preston’s infection rate has now begun to fall rapidly, down to 248 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to February 11, from 347.9 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to February 4.

South Ribble’s infection rate is now 221.1, down from 307.8, for the same two date periods as Preston.

Wyre’s rate is 113.3, down from 207.9 and in the Fylde the rate is 149.8, down from 220.4.

Ribble Valley is 175.7, down from 203.7 and Chorley is at 198.8, down from 223.3.

Read more: Leader of Preston Council calls for vaccine roll-out in the city to be “speeded up”

Prime Minister gives update on any lockdown easing

Boris Johnson led a Downing Street update and said he wants to cautiously ease coronavirus restrictions in an “irreversible” manner.

He also said he could not rule-out the third national lockdown would be England’s last.

The Prime Minister said he would be detailing the road map on February 22 and urged people to take any speculation with a “pinch of salt” ahead of his briefing to the national.

Read more: Military praised for their role in rapid Covid testing coming to Preston and Lancashire

He said: “We want this lockdown to be the last. And we want progress to be cautious but also irreversible.

“I’m very hopeful that we’ll be able to go ahead and open things up, but to say I can give an absolute cast iron guarantee that we won’t face further difficulties and have to think harder and deeper about some problems, no at this stage I can’t.”

See the full Downing Street update below

Mr Johnson said infections remained ‘very high’ and the NHS was still facing extraordinary pressures.

The government met its target to vaccinate 15 million people within vulnerable priority groups in the UK ahead of Monday (15 February).

See the latest Covid-19 vaccine roll-out stats

Mr Johnson said it was an “unprecedented national achievement” but said it was “no moment to relax” as he continues to face pressure from lockdown-sceptical MPs within his own party.

The Prime Minister also didn’t get confirmation on how pupils would return to school, the date is due to be March 8 but there is discussion over whether it will be everyone back on the same day or whether the government will push for a phased return to stagger different year groups.

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