Stroud has recorded the 4th highest rate of coronavirus cases in the South West as new infections decline by less than one per cent.

Progress stagnated in the seven days ending on February 11, with Public Health England reporting 114 cases per 100,000 in the district – a drop of only one case from the week before.

Just over two weeks ago, Stroud had recorded less new infections than all the other 16 areas in the region.

In the seven days ending January 18, Stroud had 143 Covid infections per 100,000 people, and in the week ending January 25, it had 126.

But in the week to February 4, it reported 115 cases per 100,000 compared to 114 in the week to February 11.

Only three areas have higher Covid case rates in the South West: Sedgemoor, with 143; South Gloucestershire, 158; and Bristol, 164.

Tewkesbury has the lowest case rate, reporting only 53 per 100,000 people, and further up the table Gloucester has made huge progress cutting their figures by almost 50 per cent.

The weekly infection rate is now 80 per 100,000 people across Gloucestershire – roughly the same as October last year, when many areas were in Tier 1 restrictions.

The news comes as GPs start inviting the next priority groups to arrange their vaccinations - over 65s and 16-64 year-olds with underlying health conditions.