ALMOST 40 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed in Reading yesterday (October 21).

The number of cases in Reading increased by 36 over the last 24 hours, official figures show.

READ MORE: Free school meals: How did your MP vote?

Public Health England figures show that 1,335 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Wednesday (October 21) in Reading, up from 1,299 the same time on Tuesday.

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 825 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 1,190.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 26,687 over the period to 789,229.

READ MORE: Thames Water work sees Reading road closure as diversions put in place

Reading's cases were among the 60,903 recorded across the South East, a figure which rose by 1,709 over the period.

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