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Speaking following the government's reveal of the so-called roadmap out of lockdown, Wakefield Council said there had been a "really promising" reduction in case rates across the district.

But case rates still remain significantly above the national average.

One in four adults in Wakefield have now received a Covid vaccine - latest updates on 'remarkable achievement'

Rates of coronavirus in Wakefield remain 'stubbornly high', it has been warned, as people are urged to continue following lockdown restrictions.

According to the latest figures, there have been 22,335 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the district since March, including 1,938 new cases confirmed since the start of the month.

The seven-day case rate currently stands at 184.3 per 100,000, down from 303.2 per 100,000 at the start of the third national lockdown.

But this remains far higher than the UK average case rate, which is currently 121 per 100,000.

Speaking on the BBC's Today programme earlier this week, Anna Hartley, Wakefield's Director of Public Health, said she believed the district's high numbers of cases were linked the the large number of manufacturing jobs in the region, which mean a large number of people are unable to work from home.

Councillor Faith Heptinstall, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, said: “Thanks to all the hard work of people across the district to stay at home as much as possible we are continuing to see a steady drop in rates week on week which is really promising.

"But please don’t let all this hard work go to waste. Our rates still remain high and so it is absolutely crucial we all continue to follow the important guidance and restrictions currently in place.

“It is vital that we all continue to play our part and do everything we can to avoid the infection rate increasing again. Although the number of hospital admissions is also beginning to drop, we must continue to do all we can to stop them rising again.”

At least 706 people in the Wakefield district have died within 21 days of a positive Covid-19 test.

And 969 patients have died after testing positive for Covid-19 at hospitals run by the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Pinderfields, Pontefract and Dewsbury hospitals.

There are currently 147 Covid patients being cared for by the Trust, compared to 178 at the same time last week.

Anna Hartley, Director of Public Health for the Wakefield district, said: “Rates are very steadily declining, as are hospital admissions and that is promising but both remain stubbornly high.

“We are also seeing some high rates in specific wards. Areas of the district which have the smallest populations can be particularly affected when there are clusters of cases linked by household. Even just ten additional cases can make a big difference to the rates.

“Sadly, there were also another 19 deaths from Covid-19 last week. These are all incalculable losses to the families, friends, and colleagues of those who have died.

“This is why we must not become complacent and we must all continue to take immediate action to protect ourselves and others from the very real threat of COVID-19. We must all play our part, pull together and follow the national restrictions to help slow the spread and save lives.”

Latest Covid figures for Wakefield as Boris Johnson unveils roadmap out of lockdown