THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Cumbria increased by nine in the last 24 hours, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 28,262 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Thursday (May 13) in Cumbria, up from 28,253 the same time on Wednesday.

The health body recently changed the way it records the figures.

Cases identified through a positive lateral flow test – those which can deliver results within half an hour – will no longer be counted if the person then takes a PCR test, which is sent to a lab to be checked, and receives a negative result within three days.

The rate of infection in Cumbria now stands at 5,652 cases per 100,000 people, lower than the England average of 6,898.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 2,656 over the period, to 4,444,631.

Cumbria's cases were among the 611,417 recorded across the North West, a figure which rose by 578 over the period.

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