THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Reading has increased by three in the last 24 hours, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 844 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Wednesday (August 26) in Reading, up from 841 the same time on Tuesday.

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The health body is now including Pillar 2 tests – those carried out by commercial partners – alongside Pillar 1 tests, which are analysed in NHS or PHE laboratories and which made up the first stage of the Government's mass testing programme.

The rate of infection in Reading now stands at 522 cases per 100,000 people, higher than the England average of 505.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 1,048 over the period, to 328,846.

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​Reading's cases were among the 37,280 recorded across the South East, a figure which rose by 67 over the period.

Cumulative case counts include patients who are currently unwell, have recovered and those that have died.