THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Reading has increased by two, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 906 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Friday (September 11) in Reading, up from 904 the same time on Thursday.

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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 560 cases per 100,000 people, higher than the England average of 555.

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Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 3,539 over the period, to 361,677.

Reading's cases were among the 39,603 recorded across the South East, a figure which rose by 225 over the period.

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