LOCKDOWN restrictions are slowly easing in England with some notable developments today (Monday).

With schools reopening to pupils along with the return of childcare services, such as breakfast and after-school clubs, many parents will be feeling a burden off their shoulders.

For those of us taking our daily exercise the big change there is that we can meet one other person who is not in our household or support bubble, on a social basis rather than as an exercise partner.

Indoor visits to care homes have also resumed for a single named visitor.

The success of the vaccination programme, particularly here in Cheshire, and the falling rates of infection add to the optimism as the doors of lockdown creak open.

The statistics are positive with the rolling rate of Covid-19 infections per 100,000 population down below 100 - a key marker that proved stubbornly unattainable in the circuit breaker lockdown back in November. In Cheshire East that rate now stands at 69 on March 3.

There were 30 people testing positive for coronavirus in the borough today and 262 over the past week, a drop of 15.2 per cent. Today there were three deaths attributed to Covid and 11 in the last week, but that is a drop of 15.4 per cent.

Hospital admissions have also fallen at Leighton Hospital, down to 66 patients on March 2.

But the stay at home and stay local message remains clear. So you should still only leave home where necessary, for work, exercise and shopping and these will be in place until at least March 29.