HEREFORDSHIRE'S coronavirus infection rate has fallen for the fifth week in a row as fewer new cases are being found.

As the coronavirus lockdown enters enters its sixth week, latest figures, for the seven days to February 14, show the infection rate – the number of new cases per 100,00 people – stands 77.8 at new cases per 100,000 people.

That has dropped from 87.1 the week before and is half of the figure two weeks ago.

The fall is as a result of 150 new cases were recorded during the most recent week, less than the 168 the previous week.

The infection rate is now at its lowest level since mid-December, shortly before Herefordshire moved into Tier 1 coronavirus restrictions.

Data for the most recent four days (February 15-18) has been excluded as it is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.

Of the 315 local areas in England, 13 (four per cent) have seen a rise in case rates, 301 (96 per cent) having recorded a fall. One is unchanged.

Corby in Northamptonshire has the highest rate in England, with 229 new cases recorded in the seven days to February 14 – the equivalent of 317.1 cases per 100,000 people.

This is down from 429.3 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to February 7.

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Middlesbrough has the second highest rate, down from 382.3 to 289.4, with 408 new cases.

Sandwell in the West Midlands is in third place, down from 383.3 to 271.0, with 890 new cases.

The list has been calculated by the PA news agency based on Public Health England data published on February 18 on the Government’s coronavirus dashboard.

Here is the list in full.

Here's how Herefordshire compares to nearby areas.

111. Worcester, 144.2, (146), 225.2, (228)

113. Shropshire, 143.6, (464), 190.0, (614)

181. Malvern Hills, 106.7, (84), 134.7, (106)

241. Forest of Dean, 85.3, (74), 94.5, (82)

256. Herefordshire, 77.8, (150), 87.1, (168)

271. Gloucester, 70.5, (91), 136.3, (176)

288. Cheltenham, 62.8, (73), 73.1, (85)