THE rate of Covid-19 infections across Shropshire for the seven days up to March 15 dropped again, but at a lesser rate than in previous weeks.

The rate of infections in the county was 36.5 out of 100,000, down from 38.4 for the previous week, while there were just 118 cases recorded, six fewer than the seven days leading up to March 8.

Of the 315 local areas in England, 137 (43 per cent) have seen a rise in case rates, 171 (54 per cent) have seen a fall and seven are unchanged.

Corby in Northamptonshire continues to have the highest rate in England, with 136 new cases recorded in the seven days to March 15 – the equivalent of 188.3 cases per 100,000 people.

This is up from 137.1 per 100,000 in the seven days to March 8.

Barnsley has the second highest rate, up from 142.6 to 182.7, with 451 new cases.

Hull has the third highest rate, up from 157.8 to 173.2, with 450 new cases.

Meanwhile Telford and Wrekin has seen a large drop in infection rates in the same period, going from 43.4 infection rate and 78 new cases (March 8) to 26.7 and 48 up to March 15.