THERE were 171 positive Covid-19 tests over the weekend - the first time for a number of days that the total has dipped below 200.

That said, there should be a note of caution as the figures tend to be lower over the weekend due to the way they are recorded.

Of the new confirmed cases, 55 were in South Somerset; 41 in Somerset West and Taunton; 34 in Sedgemoor; and 41 in Mendip.

Overall, since the start of the pandemic, the positive tests in each district have been 4,139 in South Somerset; 4,741 in SWT; 4,145 in Sedgemoor; and 2,717 in Mendip.

The latest infection rates based on the most recent rolling seven-day figures are 244.7 per 100,000 of population in South Somerset (up from 237 the previous day); 364.2 in SWT (down from 373.3); 291.4 in Sedgemoor (down from 308.5); and 295.9 in Mendip (up from 283.8).