Although the number of positive Covid cases has risen above 200, the rate of infection continues to fall across both Cheshire East and West.

New figures released by Public Health England cover the 24-period up to 9am on January 26.

During that time there have been 128 more positive tests results in Cheshire West, which is actually two lower than yesterday, but there were 103 in Cheshire East, which is higher than the 68 recorded on Monday.

That brings the total number of positive Covid cases since the pandemic began to 17,971 in Cheshire West and 17,121 in Cheshire East.

Meanwhile, the infection rates for both boroughs have fallen to their lowest level since just after Christmas.

In Cheshire West, the rate now stands at 362.9 per 100,000, following 1,245 cases in the seven day period up to January 21.

That is lower than 376 per 100,000 yesterday and much less than what it was last week - 450.6 per 100,000 - with the high of two weeks prior to that was 553.3 per 100,000.

In Cheshire East, the rate now stands at 275.2 per 100,000 people, following 1,057 cases in the seven day period up to January 21.

Again, that is lower than what it was yesterday - 294.9 per 100,000, with the downward trend continuing from the week before - 323.3 per 100,000 and the 411 per 100,000 from two weeks ago.