There have been 18 new coronavirus cases in Reading since Friday, with more than half of those recorded yesterday.

Public Health England figures show that 890 people have been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 as of Wednesday (September 9) in Reading, up from 872 on Friday.

Thirteen of the cases were confirmed yesterday (Tuesday, September 8), with three cases added on Monday and the other two over the weekend.

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The rate of infection in Reading now stands at 550.1 cases per 100,000 people, higher than the England average of 540.6.

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

In the last seven days, from Wednesday, September 2 – Tuesday, September 8, the rate is 16 per 100,000.

In comparison, the UK now has a rate of 23 cases per 100,000 in the last seven days, which is above the rate of 20 where the UK considers imposing a quarantine on people visiting or returning from other nations.

Sam Burrows, deputy accountable officer for Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), outlined the latest situation in Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire at the body’s AGM on Tuesday.

He said: “Berkshire West as a whole is responding well to the pandemic.

“Cases in our geography are very low. At the start of the week we had only two cases.

“Overall prevalence in Berkshire West is very low compared to other parts of the country but that doesn’t mean we can be complacent.

“We have a winter coming which is going to be very challenging of which Covid forms a significant part.”

James Kent, the chief accountable officer for the CCG, added: “This winter looks more daunting than most with Covid, flu and the uncertainty of Brexit. We need to keep an eye on the Covid uptake.

“Good communication and collaboration will be ever more important.

“There will be a renewed focus on inequalities, which Covid has brought to the fore.”

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According to the government website, the number of people who had a positive test result for Covid-19 and died within 28 days of the first positive test still stands at 111 in Reading, the same as last Friday.

The website explains the actual cause of death may not be Covid-19 in all cases and people who died from Covid-19 but had not tested positive are not included and people who died from Covid-19 more than 28 days after their first positive test are also not included.

NHS England figures show 190 people have died in hospital at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Tuesday, September 8.

An additional 20 have died at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.