Coronavirus latest: fall in Dacorum's confirmed cases in last 24 hours as Covid alert level is downgraded across the country

Dacorum has recorded 16 new positive Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours of data released this afternoon (February 25).

The total for the borough is now 8,086 according to the latest figures from Public Health England.

The incidence rate over the last 7 days has decreased from 69.1 per 100,000 to 64.6 per 100,000 population (the period represented is the 7 days ending February 20).

On February 18, the incidence rate was 94.3 per 100,000 population (the 7 days ending February 13).

There have been 141 new cases in Hertfordshire, the total is now 73,811.

Here's a daily breakdown of the figures in Dacorum for the last seven days:

> February 18 - 11 cases

> February 19 - 13 cases

> February 20 - 11 cases

> February 21 - 22 cases

> February 22 - six cases

> February 23 - 24 cases

> February 24 - 22 cases.

According to Public Health England there were 125 confirmed COVID-19 patients in West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust - which manages hospitals in Watford, Hemel Hempstead and St Albans - on Tuesday, February 16, and 15 were on mechanical ventilation beds.

There have been no new Covid-related deaths recorded in Dacorum, the total is still 309. There have been three new deaths recorded in Hertfordshire, the total is 2,391 - according to Public Health England (deaths within 28 days of positive test).

Nationally, the number of coronavirus cases has risen by 9,985 and now stands at 4,154,562. The number of deaths has risen by 323 to 122,070.

As of February 24, in the UK, 18,691,835 people had received the first dose of the vaccination for COVID-19, and 700,718 had received their second dose.

Read: Here's how many people have now had Covid vaccines in Hertfordshire.The UK's coronavirus alert level has been lowered from level five to four in all four nations, as the risk that the NHS could be overwhelmed 'has receded'.

The figures for the number of patients recovered from Covid-19 have not been released by Public Health England.

The new figures were recorded between 5pm on Tuesday, February 23, and 5pm on Wednesday, February 24.

The figures come from the Government website which is available for the public to view here.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a “roadmap” out of lockdown which aims to bring a return to more normal life, with hopes of an end to all restrictions by the end of June.

The four-step plan sets out dates for the easing of various restrictions at different times, affecting almost every aspect of daily life.

For the latest Government guidance visit: www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home.

Read: These are the vaccination sites and services in Dacorum and Hertfordshire