No deaths from Covid-19 have been recorded in Barrow for more than a month.

No one has died in the borough having tested positive for 40 days, according to official data.

It is the longest period without any deaths since the summer, when cases and deaths significantly trailed off following the first wave of the virus.

The positive data is being hailed as significant step forward, with the vaccine roll-out cited as a major factor.

People's efforts to follow the rules by social distancing and wearing masks has also been praised.

The longest previous period without any deaths since the beginning of the pandemic came between June 30 and September 29.

The data includes those who died having tested positive for the virus in the previous 28 days.

The latest data also showed that the Barrow borough was among the local authorities with the lowest weekly infection rates in England.

Six new cases in the most recent available seven day period put Barrow eight lowest in the country, with an infection rate of 8.9 cases per 100,000 people.

The highest infection rates have been recorded among people aged 10 to 14, 20 to 24, 25 to 29 and 75 to 79.

The county of Cumbria is also among the areas with the lowest infection rates.

A total of 57 new cases put the area's infection rate at 11.4.

Reacting to the figures, Barrow and Furness MP Simon Fell said: "This shows the impact of two things very clearly - an effective vaccination programme that has now reached over half of the population and those most at risk of complications from catching Covid, and people's continued efforts to socially distance, wear masks, and wash their hands.

"Collectively this has made a huge impact and it's paying off now as we are unlocking faster than most other nations, and to plan."

According to the latest data there are 11 patients being treated for Covid across the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust.

Two of those are said to currently be in mechanical ventilation beds.

A total of 1,998 Covid patients have been admitted to hospitals in the trust, figures show.

There have also been no deaths recorded in South Lakeland since March 17.

A total of 217 deaths from Covid-19 have been recorded in the district.

Nationally, 146 people have died in the past seven days having tested positive for Covid-19.

More than 16,000 people have tested positive in that time.