SOMERSET has seen 81 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the latest 24-hour figures issued this afternoon (Thursday).

But pleasingly, the rate of infection in all four districts has slowed again.

Of the new positive tests in the latest figures, 13 were in South Somerset; 25 in Somerset West and Taunton; 30 in Sedgemoor; and 37 in Mendip.

The latest cases mean there have been a total of 4,834 positive tests in South Somerset since the start of the pandemic; 5,667 in Somerset West and Taunton; 4,843 in Sedgemoor; and 3,153 in Mendip. The countywide total has risen to 18,497.

The latest infection rates based on the most recent seven-day rolling figures are 65.9 per 100,000 people in South Somerset (down from 70.7 ); 99.9 in SWT (down from 101.2); 127.5 in Sedgemoor (down from 132.2); and 75.3 in Mendip (down from 77).

Meanwhile, sadly one death of a person who had tested positive for Covid-19 within the past 28 days was recorded in Mendip.

The district total of deaths since the start of the pandemic now stand at 142 in South Somerset; 187 in SWT; 144 in Sedgemoor; and 147 in Mendip, equating to 620 countywide.