Coronavirus cases have fallen in Wirral, with the number of people being treated for the virus in the borough's hospitals also down.

After a massive surge in cases in December and early January, which saw the infection rate surge from around 400 per 100,000 to 2,948 per 100,000 by January 4, cases have begun to fall significantly.

On the latest numbers, which cover the week up to January 25, the rate was 854 per 100,000, with 2,801 cases recorded.

That is a 9% fall on last week's figures, which saw more than 3,000 cases recorded at a rate of 947 per 100,000.

The number of people being treated for COVID-19 in Wirral's hospitals has also fallen in recent weeks.

On December 28, there were just 28 COVID patients in the borough's hospitals, but by January 4 this had risen to 73, before going up again to 98 on January 11.

Yet in recent weeks, this surge has ended and patient numbers have begun to decline, albeit slowly.

By January 18, the figure had gone down to 94 and the latest number we have, for January 25, shows Wirral has 93 COVID patients.

This may only be a small decline, but it is an important one as it shows that the trend of surging case levels and surging patient numbers over Christmas may be over.

Given the improvement in figures on the virus across the country, Plan B measures were removed on January 27, with the work from home order and the mandatory requirement to wear a mask abolished.

From today, rules will be relaxed in care homes as part of the government's plan to live with the virus.

Limits had been introduced on care home visits under Plan B regulations, but the three-visitor restriction will be dropped from today in all care homes.