THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Shropshire increased by 96 over the weekend, official figures show.

Public Health England (PHE) figures show that 5,739 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Monday, November 30 in Shropshire, up from 5,643 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 since February now stands at 1,776 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 2,490.

The weekly infection rate in Shropshire for the week leading up to November 23 was 156 per 100,000.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 40,356 over the period, to 1,629,657.

Shropshire's cases were among the 165,388 recorded across the West Midlands, a figure which rose by 4,564 over the period.

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