THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Shropshire increased by 66 over the weekend, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 6,270 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Monday, December 14 in Shropshire, up from 6,204 the same time on Friday.

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 now stands at 1,940 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 2,846.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 60,211 over the period, to 1,869,666.

Shropshire's cases were among the 185,604 recorded across the West Midlands, a figure which rose by 2,518 over the period.

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