THE LATEST Covid-19 infection rates for the county shows cases continuing to decrease.

Government data, which was updated on Saturday evening, showed that only 117 people were infected by the disease in the previous seven days - this puts the infection rate per 100,000 population at 23.4.

This is a decline of 21 from the previous week - which in turn shows that the infection rate has gone down by 15.2 per cent.

As a further comparison, 630 cases had been reported on December 21 when the infection rate stood at 126.

The breakdown of the latest statistics shows shows that 31 cases were identified in Allerdale, followed by 27 in Barrow, 19 in Carlisle, 18 in South Lakeland, 12 in Copeland and 11 in Eden.

The county is now substantially below average, in terms of infection rates, compared with the rest of the UK. 

The total recorded cases in the county recorded since the beginning of the pandemic, in March last year, is 27,920. 
In terms of deaths the data shows that 1,258 people have now died in Cumbria within 28 days of a positive test since March last year.

This breaks down to 312 in Carlisle, 265 in Allerdale, 217 people in South Lakeland, 168 in Copeland, 159 in Barrow and 137 in Eden.

As an alternative measure Government figures show that 1,482 died in the county with Covid on their death certificate, since the start of the crisis.

The number of people vaccinated in the UK now stands at 30,151,287, those who have had their first dose, and 3,527,481 who have had a second.

The Government is following plans to ease the lockdown despite fears that a third wave of the infection was sweeping across Europe.

It was reported last week that Paris has gone into a four week lockdown, together with parts of northern France after infections began to rise.

Last week Boris Johnson said he is wary of the prospect of rising Coronavirus infection rates but sees “absolutely nothing in the data” to halt the easing of the lockdown.

The prime minister acknowledged cases could again spiral as restrictions are relaxed, however he believes the successful rollout of the vaccine is the “key difference” this time.

He also said "we remain confident in our supplies” of vaccine.