Covid cases in Halton fell to their lowest level since before the second wave last week.

Two months since cases reached their peak – and a year since the virus arrived in the region – Halton recorded just 105 cases of Covid-19 in the week up to March 1.

With an infection rate of 81.1 cases per 100,000 residents, this is the lowest number of cases seen in the borough since September 12.

When infections were last at this level, the government was just introducing the Rule of Six as the country prepared for the second wave of the virus.

That second wave proved to be much less serious than the third wave that followed in early January, when Halton saw its infection rate rise to 1,306 cases per 100,000 people.

The fall in cases has been reflected in conditions at local hospitals, which have seen pressure ease since January and now have fewer patients than they did in mid-October.

Warrington and Halton Hospitals had just 80 Covid patients on their wards on Friday (March 5) compared to a peak of 243. Eight of those patients were in ICU.

Deaths from Covid-19 have also remained at a consistently low level in Halton over the past week, with only three recorded in the week up to March 1.

Further good news comes from the continued success of the vaccine rollout in the borough.

So far, 41,455 people in Halton have received at least one dose of the vaccine, equivalent to 40% of the adult population.

This figure includes more than 22,000 pensioners, or 94% of Halton’s population aged over 65.

With the most vulnerable now vaccinated, there should be additional protection should cases start to rise again once children return to school this week.

Secondary school pupils will also be offered rapid Covid tests three times in their first two weeks back in an effort to limit the spread of the virus.