Derbyshire area’s coronavirus rate now highest in England

In the seven days up to May 5, the rate of infection per 100,000 people was 140.4 – up from just 12.1 in the week up to April 28.

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Last week, Wilsthorpe School in Long Eaton was shut after it was confirmed more than 100 pupils and staff had tested positive.

On Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed that indoor hospitality and household mixing can resume as planned from next Monday.

He said this was the ‘single biggest step’ in relaxing the rules and people should use good judgement.

Folk should ‘live responsibly’ with Covid-19 and stay vigilant to the risks, he added.

Mr Johnson said the latest data showed deaths and hospitalisations had dropped to their lowest level since last July.

More than two thirds of UK adults have now received a coronavirus vaccine, with almost 18 million people having had their second dose.

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A message from Phil Bramley, Derbyshire Times editor

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