PEOPLE are being urged to undertake rapid Covid-19 tests as infection rates in Cheshire East almost quadrupled over the last week.

Cheshire East Council dealt with a recent cluster of infections in the Handforth area and says it will increase testing "in areas of concern" to prevent the need for the mass surge testing which has been deployed in area with outbreaks connected to the Indian Variant, such as Bolton.

But the figures for positive test results have seen a steep rise, albeit from low numbers, with 213 in the past week in the borough, up by 169 from the previous seven days.

Yesterday (Sunday) 53 people tested positive for coronavirus and the rolling rate of infection per 100,000 population has doubled from the lows of around 15 (per 100,000) recorded in previous weeks (31.8 in the seven days up to May 26).

Cheshire East leader Sam Corcoran is warning people they need to consider limiting the time they spend indoors with other people, while considering undertaking tests even if they do not have symptoms.

He says infection data from Kings College Research shows a "sharp rise" in infections in Cheshire East.

"We know that you can become infectious before you have symptoms and you are much safer outdoors than indoors. You are much safer queueing outside a small shop than queueing inside it and safer in a garden than indoors," said Cllr Corcoran.

As part of a local pilot programme Cheshire East's test and trace team is contacting all positive cases and Cllr Corcoran noted: "Hopefully this will have more impact than the failed £20 billion national test and trace system."

And the council leader added: "Do think about taking a Lateral Flow Test at one of the many sites across Cheshire East if your work means you come into contact with a significant number of people or if you are visiting vulnerable or elderly friends."

In the Handforth area over 40 cases were identified in 10 days and although the initial positive case was displaying only minor symptoms, the virus spread very quickly to others.

Cheshire East says effective test reporting and contact tracing by the council managed to contain the outbreak, while the authority's 's Swab Squad handed out 90 home testing Lateral Flow kits.

Some experts are calling for the government to analyse more data ahead of the proposed June 21 lockdown exit.

You can collect a home test kit from Crewe's Covid test centre in Chester Street Car Park between 2.30 and 8pm without an appointment.

Go here for more information about Covid testing.