MORE than 650 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Berkshire in the last 24 hours.

Public Health England has recorded 660 new lab-confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, in areas including Reading, Bracknell, Wokingham, West Berkshire, Slough and Windsor and Maidenhead.

Theses figures, correct as of Saturday, July 17, at 4pm, bring the latest total for the county to 66,601.

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The local breakdown for the past 24 hours as follows:

Bracknell Forest - 148 cases, 8,711 total

Wokingham - 128 cases, 10,025 total

Reading - 81 cases, 13,267 total

West Berkshire - 112 cases, 7,708 total

Windsor and Maidenhead - 114 cases, 9,917 total

Slough - 77 cases, 16,973 total

A total of 5,386,340 people in the UK have tested positive for Covid-19.

The latest seven-day rate per 100,000 people locally are as follows:

Bracknell Forest - 328

Wokingham - 211.5

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Reading - 257.1

West Berkshire - 199.4

Slough - 161.8

Windsor and Maidenhead - 231.8

In today's national Covid news:

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has confirmed he tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday morning and is experiencing “mild” symptoms.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who has had both jabs of a vaccine, said he was awaiting a confirmation PCR test after initially testing positive for Covid-19 but was experiencing “mild” symptoms.

In a video on his Twitter account, he said: “I was feeling a bit groggy last night, so I took a lateral flow test this morning and it’s come out positive, so I’m now self-isolating at home with my family until I get the results of a PCR test.

“I’m grateful that I’ve had two jabs of the vaccine and so far my symptoms are very mild.”

In his video, Mr Javid urged anyone who has not been vaccinated against Covid-19 to come forward to get a jab.

He said: “I also want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved in our national vaccine rollout programme, truly the best of its kind anywhere in the world.

“If you haven’t had your jabs yet, please get out there and get them as soon as you can, and if, like me, you might feel a bit groggy or you think you might have come into contact with someone who is positive, please also take a lateral flow test too.

“If everyone plays their part, you’re not only protecting yourself and your loved ones but you’re also safeguarding the NHS and helping to preserve our way of life.”