In the same week that a new coronavirus variant began spreading rapidly in parts of London and the South East, Frodsham's infection rate also increased by over 100%.

During the seven days leading up to December 16th, there were 16 new cases recorded in Frodsham, an increase of nine on the previous week. This put the town's rolling rate at 174.5 per 100,000 of the population.

The situation was very different in the Helsby and Kingsley area, where four new cases meant a stable infection rate of 43.1 per 100,000: the lowest in Cheshire West and unchanged from the previous week.

In the week leading up to December 21st, there were 684 cases recorded in the borough as a whole, which marked an increase of 243 on the week before, and resulted in a rate of 194.4 per 100,000 residents.

Cheshire West and Chester Council Leader, Cllr Louise Gittins, has said that the infection rate in the borough is rising at an "alarming rate," and is urging people to "keep safe for Christmas."

Despite the growing prevalence of Covid-19 in our borough, the infection rate still sits below the UK average, which, as of yesterday (Monday 21st), was at 284.6 per 100,000.

The number of Covid-related deaths recorded in Cheshire West fell by seven in the last week to 25.