THE rate of new confirmed coronavirus cases is on the rise again in Cheshire west.

The infection rate for the borough had been holding steady from October 5-15, according to Government data, following a rapid rise in the number of cases in the weeks prior to that.

It mirrored rapid rises in neighbouring counties, but so far Cheshire west has been able to avoid being placed in the tightest 'tier 3' restricted areas like Warrington or the Liverpool City Region.

But despite neighbouring areas going into tighter lockdowns, preventing non-essential travel to the area, the number of confirmed cases per day is slowly rising once more.

The latest one-day figure on Monday, October 26, according to Government data, showed 110 new cases confirmed.

Over the weekend, the number of confirmed cases in Cheshire west passed the 5,000 mark since the beginning of the pandemic, although the true figure is likely to be much higher due to limited testing in the first wave of the outbreak.

The total number of cases in Cheshire west now stands at 5,193.

In the past seven days, 771 new cases have been confirmed, a rise of 8.9 per cent on the previous seven days.

The borough's infection rate now stands at 224.2.

By comparison, Warrington, which has just gone into tier 3 restrictions, has an infection rate of 395.2, while Liverpool's is 520.2.

The figures come as three new walk-in coronavirus testing sites have been announced for Chester, Ellesmere Port and Frodsham.