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

Public Health England (PHE) figures show that 14,950 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Thursday, April 8, in Shropshire, up from 14,946 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 2020 now stands at 4,627 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 6,789.

The weekly infection rate in Shropshire for the seven days to April 4 was 14.5 cases per 100,000.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 3,030 over the period, to 4,370,321.

Shropshire's cases were among the 426,247 recorded across the West Midlands, a figure which rose by 242 over the period.

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