THE coronavirus infection rate in Cheshire West and Chester continues to fall.

Latest Government data shows that the borough's infection rate for the seven-day period ending November 24 is 125.6 (431 cases) per 100,000 people.

By comparison, the seven-day period up to November 17 saw an infection rate of 264.1 (906 cases) per 100,000.

That represents a drop of more than 50%.

The current lockdown for England was introduced on November 5 and is due to end on December 2, replaced by a tougher form of the 'three-tiered' approach.

Cheshire West and Chester has been placed in Tier 2.

In the latest reporting period, there were 50 more cases recorded in the borough taking the total number since the start of the pandemic to 8,924.

Meanwhile, the Countess of Chester Hospital Trust recorded one coronavirus-related death in the latest 24-hour period, according to NHS England data.

The patient sadly died on November 26.

The Countess trust – which covers both the Chester and Ellesmere Port hospital sites – has registered 278 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

The Cheshire hospital death toll now stands at 958.

Across England, a further 208 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals to 40,405.

Patients were aged between 39 and 100 years-old. All except 13 – aged 56 to 86 – had known underlying health conditions.

Date of death ranges from October 25 to November 28, with the majority being on or after November 25.

Their families have been informed.

The number of deaths of patients with Covid-19 by region are as follows:

  • East of England - 21
  • London - 15
  • Midlands - 63
  • North East & Yorkshire - 50
  • North West - 32
  • South East – 14
  • South West - 13