Stroud recorded the highest number of Covid cases it has ever seen in a single day last week.

Public Health England confirmed 77 new infections on July 14, higher than the peak of the second wave.

Incomplete data for July 15 indicates cases soared to at least 105 new infections, dwarfing the highest figure recorded in December and January – 69 and 63 respectively.

Hospital admissions have risen at a much slower rate. In the week ending June 8, an average of 2.6 people were admitted into the care of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust each day with Covid-19, but by July 8 this rose to 5.

At its highest point during the second wave, Gloucestershire hospital admissions numbered 27.3 a day.

Across England and Wales, the number of deaths involving coronavirus each week climbed to its highest level since the end of April.

A total of 183 deaths registered in the week ending July 9 mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, according to the Office for National Statistics.

This is up 68 per cent on the previous week, and is the highest number since 205 deaths were registered in the week to April 30.

Speaking at the Downing Street press conference on Monday, the UK’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, warned that the easing of coronavirus rules in England is likely to lead to an increase in Covid-19 deaths.

Referring to documents earlier in the year which modelled the effects of loosening restrictions, he said: “I think it’s laid out very clearly in the papers as to what the risks are associated with opening up… it will lead to a further increase. I think that’s very clear.”

On July 19, the Government removed almost all mandatory Covid restrictions but because statistics lag five days behind, complete data for ‘Freedom Day’ and this week is not available yet.