Covid-19 infection rate in Lancaster now lowest in county - and well below England average

In the seven days up to March 16, 57 people in Lancaster reported positive Covid tests (a reduction of 1 on the previous week) - and the city currently has an infection rate of 37.0 based on a rolling seven-day period up to March 16 - a drop from 43.1 for the previous seven days.

This is based on the number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people, and compares with an England average of 58.6.

The total number of people with a positive Covid-19 virus test (either lab-reported or lateral flow device) reported up to Tuesday March 16 in the Lancaster region is 9,196.

Since the start of the pandemic, as of Sunday March 7, UHMBT has treated 1,917 people for the virus.

As of Tuesday March 9, there were 75 patients in UHMBT hospitals being treated for Covid-19, six of which were on ventilators.

The number of people who have passed away in Morecambe Bay hospitals in the last week after contracting coronavirus has also dropped dramatically, with two fatalities.

There have now been a total of 574 deaths from Covid-19 recorded at hospitals run by University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust (UHMBT).

The deaths are recorded when someone has died after testing positive for coronavirus within the last 28 days at UHMBT hospitals, with the numbers roughly split between the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Furness General Hospital in Barrow.

Meanwhile, in the Lancaster City Council region itself, the total number of deaths within 28 days of first positive test result for Covid-19 reported up to Tuesday March 16 is 282.

The total number of deaths where Covid-19 is mentioned as a cause on the death certificate, registered up to Friday March 5, is 320.