Preston and South Ribble’s coronavirus rates continue to fall sharply as Covid deaths fall to rate not seen since October 2020

Sunrise over Preston rooftops with St Walburge's spire in view Pic: Tony Worrall — Sunrise over Preston rooftops with St Walburge’s spire in view Pic: Tony Worrall

Preston’s latest coronavirus infection rate continues to show a rapid decline in the city.

Latest cases for Thursday (8 April) showed just eight new cases in the city.

South Ribble recorded six coronavirus cases for the same day.

Wyre saw one new case, Fylde the same, Chorley up by two and Ribble Valley increased by just two cases.

The latest infection rate data for Preston, from the Public Health England dashboard, showed the city’s infection rate is now 60.1 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to April 4, down from 101.3 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to March 28.

See the latest coronavirus cases and information near you

Data for the most recent four days (April 5-8) has been excluded as it is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.

South Ribble’s rate is now 35.2, down from 62.3 for the same two date periods as Preston.

Wyre’s rate is now just 10.7, down from 29.4 and Fylde is at 13.6, down from 45.8.

Chorley is down to 51.6, down from 72.7 and Ribble Valley’s rate is 39.4, down from 47.6.

Covid deaths fall sharply as AstraZeneca vaccine defended

Deaths involving coronavirus have plummeted 92% since the peak of the second wave in January, official weekly figures for England and Wales showed in the latest sign of progress against the pandemic.

Some 712 deaths involving Covid-19 happened in the seven days to March 19, according to the Office for National Statistics, down from 8,945 deaths in the week ending January 22 and the lowest level of weekly occurrences since October 9.

Meanwhile, the latest Public Health England (PHE) data showed Covid-19 case rates have dropped across all regions.

The positive indications came as ministers and health experts continued efforts to reassure the public about the safety of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine after regulators pointed to a one in a million chance of dying from a rare blood clot.

See the latest coronavirus vaccine stats and information near you

The data could also increase the pressure on Boris Johnson to accelerate England’s route out of lockdown as the nation prepares for the reopening of shops, hairdressers, gyms and pub beer gardens on Monday.

PHE’s figures showed cases had fallen across all ages and in all parts of England.