MORE than 300 new cases of Covid have been confirmed across Cheshire East and West as both boroughs continue to see their infection rates fall.

New figures from Public Health England cover the 24-hour period up to 9am today, January 18.

In Cheshire West, including Northwich and Winsford, there were 162 new cases in that time – taking the borough’s total to 16,620 since the pandemic started.

In Cheshire East, including Knutsford and Middlewich, there were 175 new cases in the 24 hours up to 9am today – taking the borough’s total to 16,156 cases since the pandemic began.

It means that in total across the two boroughs, there were 337 cases of Covid, lower than the 420 cases confirmed in last Monday’s data.

Meanwhile, the seven-day infection rate for both boroughs continues to fall from the post-Christmas peak, according to Public Health England.

In Cheshire West, the rate now stands at 462.3 per 100,000 people, following 1,586 cases in the week up to January 13.

That is lower than the rate of 470.2 per 100,000 people in yesterday’s figures and 567.2 per 100,000 people one week earlier, but still higher than 439.9 per 100,000 people a fortnight ago.

In Cheshire East, the rate now stands at 329.8 per 100,000 people, following 1,267 cases in the week up to January 13.

That is lower than the rate of 353.5 per 100,000 people in yesterday’s figures, 452.2 per 100,000 people one week earlier and 380.8 per 100,000 people a fortnight ago.