Cases of Covid-19 in Cumbria are continuing to steadily decrease, despite three areas being above the national average for the week ending February 12.

Cumbria, as a whole, recorded 721 new cases of coronavirus which is a decrease of 18 per cent from 876 cases in the previous week.

Copeland overtook Allerdale in having the greatest number of new cases, with 169 new cases recorded. The borough also over took Allerdale in having the highest rate of new cases at 248 new cases per 100,000 people.

Rates in Copeland, Barrow and Allerdale were all above the national average. The national average for England is 142 new cases per 100,000 people.

Rates in Copeland were also above the regional average for the North West which sits at 183 new cases per 100,000 people.

New cases decreased from the previous week in all Cumbrian districts except Copeland and South Lakeland. In Copeland and South Lakeland cases increased by 55 per cent and 11 per cent respectively.

The number of new patients admitted with Covid-19 positive status decreased from the previous week in both North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMB) by -38 per cent and -25 per cent respectively.

The 25 to 34 age group accounted for the greatest number of new cases in Cumbria.

Claire King, Public Health Consultant at Cumbria County Council, said: “The continued drop in new cases is good news and reflects the efforts people have been making to stick to the lockdown rules. But we need to put the numbers in context, for example, last year Leicester went into full lockdown when there were 50 cases per 100,000 - and our infection rate in Cumbria is still 3 to 4 times that.

“So any notions that we can start to 'take it easy’ are really wide of the mark - now is the time we need to stay on course and drive infections right down. Only then can we be confident about getting back to normal. Judging by the current rate of decline, that prospect isn’t too far away, but we’ll only get there if people keep going and stick to the rules – we’re clearly seeing the benefits of that working.”