The number of recorded coronavirus cases in Southend increased by 32 in the latest 24-hour period, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show 1,590 people in Southend had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am yesterday, up from 1,558 the same time on Wednesday.

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 Southend now stands at 868 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 1,697.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 24,138 over the period, to 1,123,197.

Southend's cases were among the 58,486 recorded across the East of England, a figure which rose by 1,056 over the period.

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