Preston’s infection rate has spiked in the latest weekly figures and is now the third highest rate in England.

The city has been in and out of England’s top 10 infection rates for the last couple of weeks and has now seen a rise in confirmed cases.

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Preston recorded 26 new coronavirus cases during Thursday (25 February).

South Ribble was up by 31 cases for the same day.

Wyre was up by 12 cases, Fylde recorded just nine, Ribble Valley just three and Chorley 17 new cases.

Infection rate data showed Preston’s infection rate is now 253.6 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to February 21, up from 213.8 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to February 14.

This moved Preston to third in the highest England infection rates, behind Corby in Northamptonshire and Peterborough.

Preston also had the fourth highest week-on-week rise of 69 areas in England to record a rise in cases.

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South Ribble saw its infection rate decline to 170.6, down from 178.7 for the same two date periods as Preston.

Ribble Valley’s rate was down to 142.9, from 154.4.

Fylde’s rate is 127.5, up slightly from 125 for the previous period.

Wyre is nearly below 100, down to 101.7 from 114.2.

Chorley’s Covid infection rate is 143, down from 179.3.

Read more: What can and can’t open in Preston and Lancashire on April 12

The infection rate data comes as it was confirmed half-a-million people across Lancashire and Cumbria have now received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Covid alert level for the UK is reduced

The Level 5 Covid alert level for the nation has now been dropped.

Top medics have agreed the threat of the NHS being overwhelmed by coronavirus is now passing.

The decision to reduce the alert to Level 4 has now been made by the UK’s four chief medical officers and NHS England’s medical director because the number of cases in hospital are “consistently declining”.

England’s Professor Chris Whitty, Northern Ireland’s Dr Michael McBride, Scotland’s Dr Gregor Smith, Wales’s Dr Frank Atherton and NHS England’s Professor Stephen Powis announced the decision on Thursday following advice from the Joint Biosecurity Centre.

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They said health services across the four nations “remain under significant pressure with a high number of patients in hospital”, but thanks to the efforts of the public numbers are now “consistently declining, and the threat of the NHS and other health services being overwhelmed within 21 days has receded”.

See the latest coronavirus vaccine stats

They added: “We should be under no illusions – transmission rates, hospital pressures and deaths are still very high.

“In time, the vaccines will have a major impact and we encourage everyone to get vaccinated when they receive the offer.

“However for the time being it is really important that we all – vaccinated or not – remain vigilant and continue to follow the guidelines.”

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