COVID infections in Wirral have fallen to a level last seen six months ago in August, despite the full reopening of schools earlier this month.

In the week up to March 18, Wirral registered 89 cases at a rate of 28 per 100,000.

Not only is that down on last week's figure of 152 cases at 47 per 100,000, it is also the lowest number of weekly infections since August 27, when just 77 cases were recorded.

The very latest figure represents huge progress since the borough's peak rate of more than 980 cases per 100,000 was recorded in the week up to January 8, as the third lockdown began.

In recent weeks, Wirral's pattern of cases falling has stuttered, with occasional jumps in infections reported.

In fact, in the most recent comparison, between cases in the week up to March 17 and the week up to March 18, a small jump from 84 to 89 infections was registered.

But previous small jumps since January have been cancelled out by falling numbers in following days and the virus has continued to decline in the borough.

This success has happened despite schools reopening to all children on March 8, although we can only just begin to analyse the impact of this based on the numbers we currently have.

It is important to follow this week's numbers to see if there is any change to that pattern as we near the next phase of lockdown easing, the Rule of Six returning for outdoor gatherings on March 29.