THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in St Helens increased by 251 within 24 hours, official figures show.

The figures underline the rapid acceleration in cases over recent weeks, which is being mirrored across the country.

Data released by Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram, meanwhile, showed the weekly case rate for St Helens had gone up to 578.2 per 100,000 people (to January 4) a rise of 365 from the previous week.

St Helens' rate has grown significantly but is still the lowest across the neighbouring areas, with Knowsley's rate 944.7, Liverpool's 732.6, Halton's 1000.7, Wirral's 711.2 and Sefton's 713.9.

It leaves the overall rate for Liverpool City Region as 750.1 per 100,000. The country is in a strict national lockdown, with school closures and a strong stay at home message.

There were six deaths in patients, who had tested positive for Covid-19, at St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust included in figures released over the past 24 hours.

NHS England figures show that since the start of the outbreak in mid-March 2020, 381 people with coronavirus have died in hospital at St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Daily death counts are revised each day, with each case backdated to the actual date of death.

This means some of the deaths that were first recorded in the latest period may actually have taken place days earlier.

The number of admissions at St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust are rising but are yet to reach the levels of severity witnessed in the first wave last year or in September and October.

Data from NHS England shows that, as of December 29, there were 55 Covid admissions being cared for at the trust, up from 33 one week earlier.

Meanwhile, as reported yesterday, GPs in St Helens are expecting to receive the first batch of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine this week.

Patients who were given the Pfizer vaccine in December will be heading back to Saints’ Totally Wicked Stadium to receive their booster jab.

This is despite the government delaying the second dose of the Pfizer and the newly approved Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine by up to 12 weeks, in an effort to vaccinate more people.

St Helens CCG said 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be used for the second dose for the borough’s over-80s population.

A vaccination programme at care homes, for residents and staff, began last week.

St Helens CCG said it is expecting its first delivery of Oxford-AstraZeneca later this week, and said it is working hard with NHE England to secure further supplies.

Speaking earlier this week, Sue Forster, St Helens Borough Council’s director of public health, said: “As a borough we are seeing deeply concerning rises in cases, with our infection rates doubling in less than a week."

She said that in a period between December 27 to January 2, 812 new cases were diagnosed, compared to 369 between December 23 to 29.

Ms Forster added: “St Helens borough is following a similar path to our neighbours across the region and country as a whole as we see cases escalate at an alarming rate.

“Now more than ever we have to take extreme care in what we do, reduce contacts with anyone from outside your household wherever possible to reduce the risk of spreading, particularly with a new strain which we have been told is far easier to pass on to others.

“Also remember to keep washing your hands, covering your face and keeping distance from others when out and about.”

Ms Forster also urged anyone feeling unwell generally to think about minimising time spent with others and to book a traditional test, as many people display a wide variety of symptoms.

If you do feel well you can also get a symptom-free test at the three walk-in mass testing centres currently operating in the borough.

These are based at St Mary’s Indoor Market in St Helens town centre, Chester Lane Community Centre in Sutton Manor and Grange Valley Youth Centre in Haydock

Ms Forster added: “With vaccinations under way we do have hope that we can see a time in the future where we do not have to live with such measures.

“But with that in mind we must all do what we can now to keep ourselves and each other safe by following the guidance clearly.”