The latest Covid-19 data has been released for the Isle of Wight and it shows 40 new cases have been confirmed here.

It means there have been 9,894 Covid positives on the Island since March 2020.

Today's figure is lower than recent daily updates - but this could be because fewer cases are reported over the weekend.

On the government's interactive map, illustrating the number of cases per 100,000 people over seven days, the Island remains purple (the highest level is one step up).

In the seven days to August 24, there were 413.2 cases per 100,000 people on the Island.

Much higher rates are being recorded in Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of the West Country.

Meanwhile, according to NHS data released this week, 17 people with Covid-19 were being treated at St Mary's Hospital on Tuesday, August 24.

There had been eight patients the previous week.

Three of those on the wards with Covid-19 were on ventilation.

Since the start of the pandemic, 159 people have died in hospital on the Island, and a further 137 people have died in community settings (like care homes and at home).

There have been three deaths in hospital in recent weeks.

Restrictions have also been tightened for those visiting the hospital.

Yesterday (Saturday), 72 new cases were added to the Isle of Wight's total and there have been a number of days recently when cases have risen by more than 100 each time.

An official government graph, which charts positive PCR tests as a rolling rate per 100,000 people, shows a sharp decline in new cases among Islanders aged below 60 (represented below by the light blue line).

It also compares the recent rise in cases compared to the peak over Christmas and the New Year.

Isle of Wight County Press: