JUST over 2,000 coronavirus cases were recorded in Warrington in the space of a week, according to the latest official figures.

A total of 2,134 new Covid-19 cases were detected in the town in the seven days leading up to January 14.

This equates to 1,019.1 infections for every 100,000 residents, the 108th highest case rate in the UK at present.

By comparison, in the week before January 7 there were 4,565 transmissions within the borough – or 2,180.1 per 100,000.

All of the country’s 377 local authority areas saw figures drop between these two dates.

South Tyneside currently has the highest case rate nationally with 1,671.4 per 100,000, while Blackburn with Darwen is the north west’s hotspot with 1383.1 per 100,000.

As of yesterday afternoon, Tuesday, Warrington Hospital had 71 coronavirus inpatients – including three in intensive care.

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Covid death toll now stands at 601.

Since the start of the pandemic, 2,894 patients have been discharged from the Lovely Lane site after receiving treatment for the virus.