BRACKNELL Forest’s weekly rate of confirmed coronavirus cases dropped to its lowest rate since the start of October before primary schools welcomed students back at the start of the week.

With a five-day lag in reporting coronavirus case data, figures show the borough’s rate per 100,000 people dropped to 37.5 on March 6 (the latest date figures were available).

The previous day, March 5, the rate was 35.1 — the lowest it has been since October 2 when the rate was 27.7 (according to government data).

Residents could start to see a small surge in the case rate in the coming days, however, as data from March 8 onwards starts to be published.

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Bracknell Forest’s public health officer Charlotte Pavitt told the News last week that ‘when the schools reopen, the rates will begin to go up again’ as ‘the virus transmits’ through ‘individuals mixing’.

Schools re-opening was the first step in the government’s four-step roadmap to re-opening England.

The next step, planned for April 12 at the earliest, will see the re-opening of non-essential retail, personal care premises and other businesses and facilities.

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Ahead of this, businesses of all sizes can now register to order free lateral flow tests for their employees.

The rapid tests deliver coronavirus results within 30 minutes.

With around one in three people who carry the virus not having symptoms, rapid testing helps to identify these individuals and can stop its spread if a positive case self-isolates following their test.

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Businesses are encouraged to register interest for the free tests by March 31, with the government planning to hand them out until the end of June.

Companies can register to order COVID-19 tests for employees at GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).