A famous proverb says that even 'a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step', and in light of the most recent updates in Cheshire's Covid-19 fightback, it's especially apt this weekend.

That's because the last Local Democracy Reporting Service Weekend Feature examined Cheshire's coronavirus position and predicted it was facing a cross-roads, in light of slowing infection rates and quickening vaccinations.

Now, it appears that those slowing infection rates might become the norm — and despite 'phenomenal progress' with the vaccine, there's a long way to go yet for the county.

What's happening with infection rates?

Cases are falling. In Cheshire West and Chester, the rate on February 7 was 181.9, compared to 269 a week earlier.

However, CWAC officials have also repeated their concerns that this decrease is still not as sharp as they would like.

Director of Public Health Ian Ashworth said: "That ski slope [of case rates] is more of a beginners' slope coming down. I think my main message is we do not lift off early — otherwise we will see that explosion in cases.

"They are just not going down as quickly as we would have seen in the summer so it is vital we keep that spread down further.

"[We do that by] encouraging people to get tested if they have symptoms. We recognise there's a lot more research in play around other symptoms associated with coronavirus, rather than just a new continuous cough, a change in taste and smell, and a fever.

"So we're looking to expand the access and ask people to consider getting tested for a number of other different symptoms — they include shortness of breath, body aches, nausea, and diarrhea."

Is the vaccine roll-out going well?

Unequivocally, yes. By the time you read this, the NHS could have offered a first dose to the top four priority groups in Cheshire.

That's according to Clare Watson, Accountable Officer of NHS Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group — the body organising the vaccine roll-out in Cheshire — who said that feat will be achieved 'by Sunday'.

Ms Watson made her comments at Cheshire West Covid-19 Outbreak Board meeting, which also saw council Chief Executive Andrew Lewis say: "75,500 people have had their first dose of the vaccine since it started back in December.

"That's a 93 per cent take up rate for the over-75 age group.It is great to see that moving forward.

"We are now moving to the completion of the first four priority groups. We are on track to vaccinate all those by next week.

"It was a big step forward when we got final confirmation that we could open a mass vaccination centre at Chester Racecourse."

Their confidence is seemingly reflected in the figures released by NHS England — which show 92 per cent of over-80s in Cheshire and Merseyside had their opening jab, extending to 89 per cent of all over-70s, by February 7.

That over-70 rate sits level with Greater Manchester, but behind Lancashire and South Cumbria — who have also vaccinated the greatest proportion of those over-80 with 94 per cent.

However, Cheshire and Merseyside does lead the way in the portion of over-80s with two doses — with its 14 per cent ahead of the 13 and 11 per cents of Greater Manchester and Lancashire and South Cumbria.

What next?

Slow progress is still progress, which is welcome.

It's also been announced that the UK's R-number — the number of people someone with Covid infects — is below 1 for the first time since July.

And, next week, the government will begin on planning Britain's 'roadmap' out of lockdown, which will finally put a marker on how far away that end-of-tunnel light is.

So, little-by-little, Cheshire is inching its way out of the third wave of cases — and back to life.