Cheshire East Council leader Sam Corcoran has issued a withering comparison of England's Covid death rate with that of New Zealand.

Only 25 people have died in New Zealand where a three-day lockdown has been implemented in its biggest city Auckland today because three positive cases were discovered.

While the five million-populated country has a low population density (167th in the world), the Labour councillor believes it is a valid comparison to make as he launched an attack on Boris Johnson's administration.

Cllr Corcoran said: "New Zealand has locked down Auckland because of three cases in the city. The rest of the country is Covid-free and has very few restrictions.

"By population size the equivalent number of Covid deaths in England would be a few hundred while the actual figure is over 100,000.

"By taking early and decisive action New Zealand has protected its population and limited the impact on the economy. By contrast Boris Johnson delayed the first lockdown and suggested that we take it on the chin.

"That decision and subsequent ones have cost the country dearly and have left us with one of the highest death rates in the world and one of the most damaged economies."

Cheshire East is following the national trend of falling coronavirus cases as the impact of the third lockdown takes effect. The latest government figures show 68 more people tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday (Sunday), but the 455 positive tests in the last seven days is a drop of 37 per cent on the previous week.

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The rolling rate of cases per 100,000 was 151.9 on February 9.

There have been 28 deaths attributed to Covid in the last week, a drop of 35 per cent on the previous week.

Pressure remains on Macclesfield hospital with 104 patients with coronavirus last Tuesday (9 February) - a drop of five from the previous week.