THE good news is the Covid-19 rate of infection in two Somerset districts went DOWN in the past 24 hour period.

The bad news is the rate went UP in the other two Somerset districts in the past 24 hours.

Sedgemoor recorded 71 new confirmed cases in the 24 hours to 5pm yesterday (Thursday) - that is down three on the previous day. The rate per 100,000 population was down from 60.1 to 57.6, although that is still the highest rate in the county council area.

Mendip saw a rise in seven day cases from 50 to 54; the rate per 100,000 was up from 43.3 to 46.7.

Somerset West and Taunton had 83 positive test results over the last seven days - up from 82; the infection rate rose from 52.9 to 53.5.

The virus is least prevalent in South Somerset, where there were 44 cases in the latest seven days - down from 45 on figures released yesterday. The rate dipped from 26.7 to 25.6 per 100,000.