ALMOST 80 Covid-19 cases were officially diagnosed in Reading during the weekend alone.

The number of recorded coronavirus cases in the town jumped by 77 from October 17 - 18, figures show.

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Public Health England data reveals that 1,286 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Monday (October 19) in Reading, up from 1,209 the same time on Friday.

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 795 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 1,118.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 51,955 over the period to 741,212.

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Reading's cases were among the 58,204 recorded across the South East, a figure which rose by 2,851 over the period.

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