Watford's latest coronavirus infection rate is the lowest it has been since early October, according to figures published by Public Health England.

The town recorded 93 cases over the seven days to February 15 which is more than ten times lower than over New Year.

The latest data is hugely encouraging ahead of the Prime Minister's big announcement today on how lockdown measures will be eased in England.

Watford had one of the highest infection rates in England in December after a new more infectious strain of Covid swept across the south and east of England.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock plunged the town and the districts of Three Rivers and Hertsmere into Tier 3 on December 14, and the town has been under the harshest lockdown measures ever since.

But the measures appear to have worked and after weeks of steady decline, the weekly infection rate in Watford dropped below 100 cases per 100,000 population for the first time since early October.

It had been as high as 1000 cases per 100,000 in the seven days to January 6, but sat at 96.3 (93 cases) for the seven days to February 15, which is below the average for England of 128.5.

The top map was a snapshot of the Watford area over Christmas and actually got even more purple. The darker the colour, the higher the rates. The map below is a snapshot of the same area for mid-February.

The top map was a snapshot of the Watford area over Christmas and actually got even more purple. The darker the colour, the higher the rates. The map below is a snapshot of the same area for mid-February.

Watford's infection rate is currently lower then neighbouring Three Rivers and Hertsmere. The rates in these areas sit at 97.5 (91 cases) and 105.8 (111 cases) respectively.

Similarly low numbers of cases have been reported for the three areas between February 16 and 19.

There were no specific coronavirus hotspots in any in south west Hertfordshire wards in the seven days to February 16, with South Oxhey recording the most cases with 20.

Public health officials continue to urge people to stick by the rules to bring case numbers down further and prevent new outbreaks.

Rapid testing is one of Hertfordshire County Council's most crucial ways of reducing the spread of the disease, with sites cropping up all around the county designed to let a key worker know if they unknowingly have Covid.

Read more: Where can I get a rapid Covid test in and around Watford?

Although infection rates are falling across the country, the Prime Minister has said the Government will be "cautious" in its approach to easing lockdown.

He will address MP's in the Commons this afternoon before addressing the nation at 7pm.

Four key tests will need to be met as restrictions are gradually relaxed across the country over the coming weeks, including the success of the vaccinaton rollout, reducing Covid hospitalisations, deaths and cases, and the impact of any new variants.

More than 70,000 over 70s living in west Hertfordshire received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine by February 14, according to NHS figures, while newer figures published on February 18 revealed 322,286 people across the whole of Hertfordshire and west Essex have received their first dose.

The number of Covid patients being cared for at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust has reduced from a high of 347 on January 12 to 125 on February 16.

However, the trust continues to record deaths of patients who died within 28 days of a positive Covid test.

There have been 863 deaths since the pandemic began, including more than 50 in February and more than 250 in January.