Melton is safest area of county for new Covid-19 infections

Monitoring the number of new infections plays an important part in measuring ‘R’, the reproduction rate of the virus with the prospect of ‘local lockdowns’ being mooted by the government in those parts of the country where Covid-19 is most prevalent.

And the new statistics show there were four new positive cases of coronavirus in the borough of Melton between May 23 and June 6, which equates to a rate of 7.8 per 100,000 of the population.

Melton is ranked 136th out of 313 local authorities in England in terms of new infections with the potentially deadly virus.

The figures show there have now been 74 Covid-19 cases in the borough up to June 6, which is the most up-to-date record.

Oadby and Wigston is the district of Leicestershire which ranks highest - 52nd - with 10 new cases and an infection rate of 17.5 per 100,000 population.

North West Leicestershire is 81st (13 new infections); Hinckley and Bosworth 97th (12); Blaby 105th (10); Charnwood 108th (18) and Harborough 110th (9).