A rapid reduction in Wirral’s coronavirus cases has seen the borough’s infection rate fall below 100.
Wirral's rate of 99 per 100,000 in the seven days up to November 23 is the lowest figure it has recorded since September 11.
As recently as November 8, shortly after the start of the second national lockdown, Wirral’s rate was over 200 with nearly 700 active cases of the virus.
But in the last seven days 321 Covid-19 cases have been recorded in the borough.
That is huge progress, but a long, hard winter remains before a vaccine can be widely distributed.
Figures which break Wirral’s cases down into individual council wards and go slightly further back, covering the seven days up to November 20, also make for good reading for most of the borough.
As Wirral prepares to go into Tier 2, find out how many Covid-19 cases there are near you
Rock Ferry, which along with Claughton had the most cases in Wirral last week, recorded 40 Covid-19 infections.
That is a fall of one on the 41 cases Rock Ferry registered last week, but more than any other council ward in Wirral.
West Kirby and Thurstaston (30) and Bromborough (28) were the next worst-hit wards, with the former registering a big rise from just eight infections last week.
However, across Wirral just four out of 22 wards recorded more infections than last week, with one showing no change and 17 showing a decline in cases.
What is the picture across our region?
Throughout the Liverpool City Region, which includes Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, Wirral, St Helens and Halton, infection rates have fallen considerably.
Halton’s rate has decreased from 235 to 168 in the last seven days, while St Helens’ infection rate is now 160, down from 265 the week before.
Liverpool’s rate stands at 138, a fall of almost 100 per 100,000 on last week’s rate of 233.
Sefton and Knowsley registered rates of 132 and 150 respectively, both figures were down on the rates of 242 per 100,000 and 232 per 100,000 registered in the week up to November 16.
These numbers mean the city region will be in Tier 2 from December 2, when the national lockdown ends.
Under Tier 2 rules, pubs will be able to open and serve alcohol as long as it is served with a substantial meal.
Last orders will be called at 10pm, with all venues to close by 11pm.
Members of different households will not be allowed to mix indoors unless they are part of the same support bubble.
However, you will be allowed to meet up with people outside your household or support bubble in an outdoor setting such as a private garden or a park as long as the group is no larger than six.
