Five more deaths and over 1,400 new Covid cases in Cornwall in 24hrs
More than 140,000 positive tests have been recorded since the pandemic began
The number of coronavirus cases in Cornwall increased by 1,418 in the last 24 hours, official figures show – and five more deaths were recorded.
A total of 140,950 cases had been confirmed in the Duchy when the UK daily dashboard was updated on March 23rd (Wednesday), up from 139,532 on Tuesday.
In England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, if one person tests positive for the virus more than 90 days after the first infection, two infection episodes will be recorded, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
Latest weekly figures show Cornwall recorded 7,901 cases in the seven days to Friday March 18th, giving us a case rate of 1,372.8 per 100,000 people.
That is the highest ever level for Cornwall and the second highest in England.
Both the Royal Cornwall Hospitals' and Partnership Foundation trusts have suspended visits, as they warn coronavirus continues to have a "significant impact".
There were also five more coronavirus deaths recorded in the latest 24-hour period in Cornwall.
The dashboard shows 732 people had died in the area by March 23rd (Wednesday) – up from 727 on Tuesday.
It means there have been 19 deaths in the past week, which is an increase on 10 the previous week.
They were among 9,371 deaths recorded across the South West.
The figures include anyone who died within 28 days of a positive test result for Covid-19, and whose usual residence was in Cornwall.
Daily death counts are revised each day, with each case backdated to the actual date of death.
The figures also show that more than two-thirds of people in Cornwall have received a booster dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
The latest figures show 365,918 people had received a booster or third dose by March 22 (Tuesday) – 69% of those aged 12 and over, based on the number of people on the National Immunisation Management Service database.
A total of 441,043 people (83%) had received two jabs by that date.
Across England, 67% of people aged 12 and above had received a booster.
Unlike at local level, the national rate was calculated using mid-2020 population estimates from the Office for National Statistics.
You will find the latest coronavirus figures for Cornwall on the government's website.