THERE is 'a high chance' of a fourth wave of Covid-19 cases in Cheshire East if residents do not follow government guidance, according to the council leader.

Labour leader Sam Corcoran issued the warning via his Twitter account today (Tuesday), although he stresses he believes the pandemic picture locally will improve this year if vaccines continue to work as effectively as they are doing

Cllr Corcoran said: "With the locally-run vaccination programme going so well, it is natural for people to start thinking about the recovery from the pandemic.

"I still think there is a high chance of a fourth wave if people don't follow the basic rules of hands-face-space. That's washing hands regularly with soap and water, wearing a face covering, and staying 2m apart.

"Unless there is a variant which evades the vaccines, then I believe things will improve by this summer."

Cllr Corcoran says while infection numbers continue to fall the impact of children going back to school may begin to show in next week's figures.

Yesterday, Cheshire East saw 23 new coronavirus case, while the current rolling seven-day infection rate is 51.8 cases per 100,000 residents, lower than the England-wide figure of 58.7.

There were no deaths recorded yesterday in the borough due to Covid-19.

Cheshire vaccine chiefs are confident of jabbing the top nine priority groups by mid-April.

NHS England data shows that 46 per cent of Cheshire and Merseyside adults have now had their first dose of the vaccine.