THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Reading has increased by 26 since Tuesday (October 27), official figures show.

Also three new coronavirus deaths were recorded at Royal Berkshire Trust on Tuesday.

Public Health England figures show that 1,528 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Wednesday (October 28) in Reading, up from 1,502 the same time on Tuesday.

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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 945 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 1,420.

Reading's cases were among the 70,898 recorded across the South East, a figure which rose by 1,877 over the period.

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

NHS England figures show 220 people had died in hospital at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Tuesday.

That was an increase of three compared to Monday, when there were 217.

It means there have been nine deaths in the past week, up from six the previous week.

The victims were among 3,710 deaths recorded across the South East.

Daily death counts are revised each day, with each case backdated to the actual date of death.

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This means some of the deaths that were first recorded in the latest period may actually have taken place days earlier.

Only deaths that occur in hospitals where the patient has tested positive for Covid-19 are recorded, with deaths in the community excluded, such as those in care homes.