COVID-19 cases are at their highest level in Cheshire East since the global pandemic was declared.

Figures show the rate of positive cases in Cheshire East as 562.2 per 100,000 people.

This is significantly higher than the rates in the north west and in England of 417.4 and 366.8 respectively.

Councillor Sam Corcoran, leader of Cheshire East Council, said: "This latest surge means we have a record high number of positive Covid-19 cases right across the borough.

"Even though Covid-19 hospitalisations remain low, if we don’t prevent the cases from rising with winter approaching, there could be major disruption to children’s education and in adult social care settings."

Councillor Craig Browne, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council, said: "We know only too well just how much our residents and businesses have done and already given up.

"I appreciate asking you to do more now is a difficult message, but that is exactly what we must all do.

"Each one of us needs to keep going with all those things we have been doing to stay safe – get vaccinated, keep testing at least twice a week and if you have symptoms, self-isolate straight away and get a PCR test."

Dr Matt Tyrer, director of public health at Cheshire East Council, added: "The advice now is that we all need to take precautions to help stop the spread.

"We must go back to following the basics of what we all know – hands, space, face and fresh air.

"Getting vaccinated, whether that is your first, second, booster or flu jab, is safe and the most effective way at keeping you from getting seriously ill, preventing hospitalisation and even death.

"Maintaining a regular lateral flow testing regime at least twice a week is really important.

"We know more than a third of people who test positive do not have any symptoms, and therefore can pass on this virus unknowingly."

To book or manage your coronavirus vaccination, visit nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination.

For information on where to get tested or pick up home testing kits visit cheshireeast.gov.uk/covid-testing.

To order lateral flow test kits for delivery, visit gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests.