THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Shropshire increased by 31 over the last 24 hours, official figures show.

Public Health England (PHE) figures show that 1,799 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Wednesday, September 30, in Shropshire, up from 1,768 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 now stands at 557 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 690.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 7,108 over the period, to 453,264.

Shropshire's cases were among the 42,638 recorded across the West Midlands, a figure which rose by 428 over the period.

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