Coronavirus infection rates are still dropping across Hertfordshire as schools prepare to welcome pupils back to the classroom.

All student’s in England’s schools will return to class from Monday, March 8, with a wider use of face masks and testing in secondaries.

Ahead of schools in the country reopening to all pupils, latest government figures show all 10 districts in Hertfordshire have a Covid infection rate of below 100 cases per 100,000 population.

This is an encouraging step for the county as rates had been much, much higher at the start of January, with areas such as Watford recording a rate of 1,000 cases per 100,000 population.

But thankfully infection rates have continued to fall across Hertfordshire over the last few weeks during the third lockdown, with the latest rates lower than what they were at the end of the second lockdown in November.

St Albans currently has the lowest infection rate in the county, recording a rate of 25.6 cases per 100,000 population in the seven days to March 2.

Below you can see what the infection rate is in your area.

Schools reopening is the first step phase of easing lockdown under Boris Johnson’s road map out of lockdown.

A further easing will occur no earlier than March 29 when the school Easter holidays begin, with larger groups of up to six people or two households allowed to gather in parks and gardens.

The other points when restrictions may be eased at the earliest are:

– April 12, when shops, hairdressers, nail salons, libraries, outdoor attractions and outdoor hospitality venues such as beer gardens may reopen.

– May 17, when two households or groups of up to six people may be allowed to mix indoors and crowds of up to 10,000 in the largest venues will be allowed at performances and sporting events.

– “As soon as possible” and no later than step three, when ministers committed to reviewing social-distancing guidance that has prevented loved ones from hugging for nearly a year.

– June 21, when all remaining restrictions on social contact could be lifted, larger events can go ahead and nightclubs could finally reopen.

But progressing along the schedule will depend on meeting four tests: the success of the vaccine rollout, evidence of vaccine efficacy, an assessment of new variants, and keeping infection rates below a level that could put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.

Hertfordshire’s director of public health Jim McManus said there is an opportunity to make the plans “work” during a press conference after they were revealed.

But in order to do this, he urged residents to continue following the rules and to “not let their guard down”.