THE number of new coronavirus cases recorded in Halton in the space of a week has slightly fallen according to the latest figures.

The latest Public Health England data on the rolling seven-day rate of positive Covid-19 tests showed 438 new cases for the period leading up to October 15.

This represents 338.5 cases per 100,000 residents, which is the 33rd highest rate of any local authority area in the country at present.

The figures are based on tests carried out in laboratories and in the wider community.

By comparison, in the seven days leading up to October 8 there were 517 new cases, representing 399.5 cases per 100,000 residents.

In Nottingham, 2,368 new cases were recorded in the seven days to October 15 - the equivalent of 711.3 cases per 100,000 people.

This is down from 1001.2 cases per 100,000 in the seven days to October 8.

Knowsley has the second highest rate, but this is down from 729.1 to 673.5, with 1,016 new cases.

Liverpool is in third place, where the rate has dropped from 684.7 to 606.6, with 3,021 new cases.

Case rates have also fallen in the cities of Newcastle, Exeter, Sheffield, Manchester and Leeds.

The data from Public Health England for the most recent three days, October 16-19, has been excluded as it is incomplete and likely to be revised.