Latest Covid infection rate in Sheffield – with three South Yorkshire areas now below 200

The figures, for the seven days to February 5 (the latest date for which reliable figures are available) showed that Sheffield's current rate is 174.2 cases per 100,000 people.

This is a massive reduction from the previous week, where the city's rate stood at 230.7 per 100,000 people.

Rotherham's weekly infection rate is also down to 218.9 new cases per 100,000 people from 239.6 the previous week.

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Barnsley has also seen a big reduction with the rate there falling from 227.2 to 196.1 per 100,000 people during the same period.

This is followed by Doncaster, which recorded a reduction from 212.9 cases the previous week to 196.9 per 100,000 people.

Data for the most recent four days (February 6-9) has been excluded as it is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.

The figures are based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government’s testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).

Of the 315 local areas in England, seven (2 percent) have seen a rise in case rates and 308 (98 percent) have seen a fall.

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Rutland in the East Midlands has the highest rate in England, with 207 new cases recorded in the seven days to February 5 – the equivalent of 518.4 cases per 100,000 people.

This is up from 170.3 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to January 29, and has been linked to an outbreak at a prison in the county.

Corby in Northamptonshire has the second highest rate, down from 501.3 to 432.0, with 312 new cases.

Walsall in the West Midlands is in third place, down from 466.6 to 431.6, with 1,232 new cases.

The third national lockdown started in England on January 6 as the vaccination rollout campaign seems to continue to be on track.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he will be making a lockdown review where a ‘roadmap’ will be laid out to end the strict coronavirus measures currently in place by February 22.

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In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.