THE weekly Covid-19 case rate for St Helens remains low but has crept up slightly, according to latest figures.

The figures, for the seven days to May 6, for St Helens show there were 24 cases recorded, a rate of 13.3 per 100,000.

That is up from 19 cases on the previous week at a rate of 10.5 per 100,000.

Yesterday it was announced the UK's coronavirus alert level is being lowered from four to three following advice of experts.

The new level means although the virus is in general circulation, transmission is no longer high or rising exponentially.

In January, the UK moved to the highest Covid alert level of five, as the nation was put into lockdown and there was a risk of the NHS becoming overwhelmed.

The alert was lowered to four in February. Level three means there is a gradual easing of restrictions. 

St Helens Star:

The Prime Minister announced last night the next phase in theeasing of lockdown will go ahead from next Monday.

Official figures show that of the 315 local areas in England, 107 (34 per cent) have seen a rise in rates, 196 (62 per cent) have seen a fall and 12 are unchanged.

Erewash in Derbyshire has the highest rate, with 214 new cases in the seven days to May 6 – the equivalent of 185.5 cases per 100,000 people. This is up from 17.3 in the seven days to April 29.

Bolton in Greater Manchester has the second highest rate, up from 70.2 to 133.5, with 384 new cases.

Blackburn with Darwen in Lancashire has the third highest, up from 50.1 to 84.8, with 127 new cases.

The list has been calculated by the PA news agency based on Public Health England data published on May 10 on the Government’s coronavirus dashboard.

What is the situation in local hospitals

St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was caring for two coronavirus patients in hospital as of Tuesday last week, figures show.

NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on May 4 was in line with the same day the previous week.

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The number of beds at St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 decreased by 89 per cent in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 19.

How is the vaccine rollout progressing?

As reported on Friday, a third of people in St Helens have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, figures reveal.

NHS data shows 51,276 people in the area had received both jabs by May 2 – 35 per cent of those aged 16 and over, based on the latest population estimates from the Office for National Statistics.

Of those to have received both jabs, 43,611 were aged 45 and over – 51 per cent of the age group.

It means 7,665 people aged between 16 to 44 have received both doses.