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

Public Health England figures show that 904 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Thursday (September 10) in Reading, up from 895 the same time on Wednesday.

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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 559 cases per 100,000 people, higher than the England average of 549.

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Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 2,919 over the period, to 358,138.

Reading's cases were among the 39,378 recorded across the South East, a figure which rose by 199 over the period.

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