MORE than 20,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Cheshire west since the start of the pandemic.

New figures revealed today (Wednesday, February 17) by the Government showed that officially, 20,059 people had received at least one positive Covid-19 test since testing began 12 months ago.

The true number of people who have had the virus is likely to be significantly higher, however, as Covid-19 testing was far more limited during the first wave of the pandemic.

And even now, there exists the possibility people have Covid-19, but have not gone for a test as they have shown none of the usual symptoms.

Those who are showing additional symptoms, such as muscle or body aches, headaches, diarrhoea or shortness of breath, are now being urged to get tested.

Despite the continued influx of Covid cases, the region's seven-day infection rate, which is used as the barometer on gauging how high Covid levels are, continues to fall steadily.

The latest available seven-day infection rate for February 6-12 is 141.1 per 100,000 people in west Cheshire.

That is about a third lower than the infection rate for the previous seven days up to February 5, when the rate was 210.7.

It is also a reduction of more than three-quarters from the region's peak infection rate from December 29-January 4, of 625.8, just before the UK went into its current lockdown.