THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Shropshire increased by 87 over the last 24 hours, official figures show.

Public Health England (PHE) figures show that 3,034 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Wednesday, October 28, in Shropshire, up from 2,947 the same time on Tuesday.

The health body is now including Pillar Two tests – those carried out by commercial partners – alongside Pillar One 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 Shropshire since February now stands at 939 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 1,420.

The weekly rate of infection for the seven days leading up to Saturday, October 24 was at 114.8 cases per 100,000.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 24,700 over the period, to 942,275.

Shropshire's cases were among the 82,363 recorded across the West Midlands, a figure which rose by 2,576 over the period.

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