The total number of recorded coronavirus cases in North West Leicestershire passed the 5,000 mark on Thursday.

But the seven-day case rate dipped below 200 per 100,000 this week.

It means the number of cases in the area has more than halved since last month when the figure was just over 400.

Over the past 24 hours, 27 new cases were recorded - however that does push the district past the unwanted 5,000-case milestone since the pandemic began almost a year ago.

But the underlying figures indicate that the infection rates are falling fast.

More than 300 cases were confirmed across the city and county on Thursday.

There were 125 cases in Leicester while 179 were spread across Leicestershire.

Oadby and Wigston again has the lowest number of new cases – six, and Melton had nine.

More than 20 new infections were identified in Blaby – 28, Harborough – 26,

Hinckley and Bosworth – 25 and North West Leicestershire – 27.

Charnwood added 58 new cases to its overall toll.

The new cases mean that the total number of cases across the city and county since the start of the pandemic area by area are :

• Leicester: 31,846
• Blaby: 6,181
• Charnwood: 10,809
• Harborough: 4,490
• Hinckley and Bosworth: 5,276
• Melton: 2,316
• North West Leicestershire: 5,001
• Oadby and Wigston: 4,480

The latest seven-day infection rates, area by area, are:

• Leicester: 299.8 cases per 100,000 (1,062 cases in the last seven days)
• Blaby: 205.9 cases per 100,000 (209)
• Charnwood: 195.9 cases per 100,000 (364)
• Harborough: 167.4 cases per 100,000 (157)
• Hinckley and Bosworth: 195.3 cases per 100,000 (221)
• Melton: 167.9 cases per 100,000 (86)
• North West Leicestershire: 191.9 cases per 100,000 (198)
• Oadby and Wigston: 259.6 cases per 100,000 (148)