New Preston Covid high for the third day in a row, as city awaits restrictions announcement

A total of 193 positive tests were recorded in the city council area in the seven days to 14th September, up from 134 over the previous week.

That equates to a Covid case rate of 134.8 per 100,000 people, according to Press Association analysis of Public Health England data - once again makign Preston the third-worst affected area of England.

Both of the measures have been rising every day since the start of September, during which time the figures have more than trebled.

The rolling weekly "test positive rate" - the proportion of people tested who are found to have Covid-19 - has also gone up from 5.3 percent to 6.3 percent in just 24 hours.

That means one in 16 people who were tested in Preston in the week to 14th September proved positive.

It comes as Preston awaits the usual Friday review of additional coronavirus restrictions currently in force. Household mixing in dwellings, gardens and most public indoor spaces has been banned in the city for more than a month.

Earlier today (Thursday), the government announced that more than two million people in the North East will be put under much stricter measures than those that currently apply in Preston - even though case rates in all of the affected areas are far lower than in Preston.

The North East restrictions include the outlawing of household mixing even in outdoor public spaces, as well the closure of pubs and other leisure venues at 10pm each night.

Preston City Council leader Matthew Brown said of the latest Covid figures in the area: “This is a trend we desperately want to end – with the rate of infection in Preston at an all-time high, almost double what it was a week ago.

"Keep your family, friends and community safe by taking the necessary precautions and help us stop the spread of the virus in Preston.”

Preston's two walk-in testing facilities at Moor Park and Preston Markets were both closed today and will remain so tomorrow (Friday), after moving to a five-day-a-week operation as a result of the demands being placed upon them by capacity pressures in the national testing system. The Post also revealed earlier this week that the type of kit used at community testing facilities is in short supply.

However, residents displaying symptoms can book an appointment (see below for details) for a test at a pop-up unit on the University of Central Lancashire's Vernon Street car park which will be operating on Friday.

The walk-in facilities will reopen at the weekend to begin their new Saturday to Wednesday operation, between 10am and 3pm.

Meanwhile, South Ribble's Covid case rate has slightly declined to 47.8 (53 cases) in the week to 14th September, from 49.6 (55 cases) a week earlier.

In Chorley, the figures have continued to rise over the same period to 38.9 (46 cases), from 30.5 (36 cases) during the previous seven days.

HOW TO GET A TEST

Call 119 or visit gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test for an appointment if you have symptoms. This service books slots for both the pop-up unit on UCLan's Vernon Street car park (operational on 18th, 24th and 25th September) and the regional testing site at the park and ride close to the Capitol Centre in Walton-le-Dale, if they are available.

For those living in the Preston City Council area, walk-in testing centres are available at the former parks depot on Moor Park, off Moor Park Avenue, and Preston Markets, under the canopy, close to Lancaster Road. Both are open Saturday to Wednesday, 10am until 3pm, and people without symptoms can also be tested here.

People attending should wear a face covering, unless exempt, and also arrive in plenty of time before the sites close, as queues can be lengthy

Under-fives are not able to be tested at these facilities due to the type of kit required. Tests for this age group should be booked via the 119 number or government website above.