Preston’s infection rate for coronavirus has surged beyond the 400 per 100,000 people mark for the first time.

Latest figures show the infection rate for new cases in the seven days to October 19 was 419.9 per 100,000 people, according to new analysis from the Press Association. This was up from 373.1 per 100,000 people for the seven days to October 12.

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South Ribble’s infection rate also grew, up to 377.3 per 100,000 people up from 286.1 per 100,000 people for the same date periods.

New cases for Friday (October 23) in Preston saw 96 new confirmed cases and 63 new confirmed cases in South Ribble.

Read more: Areas of Fulwood see new Covid cases doubling in space of a week

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Across the North West region there was some better news as the R rate – the rate of infection – has slowed according to Public Health England.

It’s down to between 1.1 to 1.3 from between 1.2 and 1.5 in the previous week.

Read more: Preston pub begins selling meals for 1p as tier-three restrictions begin

Businesses and communities in Preston still await the outcome of the £42m funding package agreed between the government and Lancashire’s political leaders for the county going into tier-three restrictions.

Saturday will mark a week since the new tier-three measures came into place for the city, and the county, but no details have been released on how the funding will be accessed or divided.

A spokesperson for Lancashire County Council told LancsLive ‘discussions with the government are ongoing’.

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines