THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Shropshire increased by 29 over the weekend, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 14,878 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Monday, March 29 in Shropshire, up from 14,849 the same time on Friday.

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 Shropshire now stands at 4,604 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 6,741.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 12,381 over the period, to 4,337,696.

Shropshire's cases were among the 423,261 recorded across the West Midlands, a figure which rose by 1,292 over the period.

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