THE rate of Covid-19 infections per 100,000 in Shropshire has halved once more in the seven days up to March 7.

There were just 136 new cases recorded in the county in the seven-day period, with an infection rate of 42.1 compared to 81.1 and 262 new cases for the week before.

The news statistics, compiled weekly by the Press Association on each local authority in England, show that Shropshire's declining rate has placed them in the lower of authorities in the country.

Telford & Wrekin's rate has seen a significant drop from 125.7 to 48.9 while cases have dropped from 226 to just 88.

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Of the 315 local areas in England, 23 (seven per cent) have seen a rise in case rates, 291 (92 per cent) have seen a fall and one is unchanged.

Derbyshire Dales has the highest rate in England, with 130 new cases recorded in the seven days to March 7 – the equivalent of 179.7 cases per 100,000 people.

This is up from 60.8 per 100,000 in the seven days to February 28.

Hull has the second highest rate, down from 160.1 to 156.3, with 406 new cases.

Rotherham is in third place, up slightly from 137.5 to 148.4, with 394 new cases.