THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Shropshire increased by 193 in the last 24 hours, official figures show.

Public Health England (PHE) figures show that 7,347 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Thursday, December 31, in Shropshire, up from 7,154 the same time on Wednesday.

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 2,274 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 3,802.

The weekly infection rate for the seven days up to Boxing Day was 111.4 cases per 100,000.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 55,892 over the period, to 2,488,780.

Shropshire's cases were among the 227,483 recorded across the West Midlands, a figure which rose by 4,986 over the period.

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