WILTSHIRE is still seeing a drop in Covid cases, the latest figures have revealed.

The figures, for the seven days to February 20, are based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government’s testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).

The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.

Wiltshire recorded 439 cases in the week to February 20 at a rate of 87.8 cases per 100,000 people.

This is down from 609 cases at a rate of 121.8 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days up to February 13.

The decrease comes as other areas of the country, such as Rutland and North Warwickshire, continue to see increases in their case rates.

Data for the most recent four days (February 21-24) has been excluded as it is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.

Of the 315 local areas in England, 51 (16%) have seen a rise in case rates, 260 (83%) have seen a fall and four are unchanged.

Corby in Northamptonshire continues to have the highest rate in England, with 248 new cases recorded in the seven days to February 20 – the equivalent of 343.4 cases per 100,000 people.

This is up from 314.3 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to February 13.

Peterborough has the second highest rate, up slightly from 263.5 to 271.9, with 550 new cases.

Leicester is in third place, down very slightly from 256.1 to 252.7, with 895 new cases.

Of the 51 areas to record a week-on-week rise, the top five are:

Rutland (up from 130.2 to 248.0)

North Warwickshire (170.1 to 234.4)

Tamworth (196.9 to 246.4)

Redditch (184.1 to 233.4)

Oadby & Wigston (133.3 to 173.6)

Other local case rates:

From left to right, it reads: name of local authority; rate of new cases in the seven days to February 20; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to February 20; rate of new cases in the seven days to February 13; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to February 13.

Swindon, 108.0, (240), 99.0, (220)

Winchester, 46.5, (58), 87.3, (109)

New Forest, 67.2, (121), 93.3, (168)

Dorset, 80.6, (305), 92.5, (350)

Test Valley, 91.2, (115), 118.9, (150)