THE number of coronavirus cases in Essex has risen by 340 over the past 24 hours, the latest figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 20,313 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 4pm on Saturday (November 28) in Essex, up from 19,973 the same time on Friday.

In Colchester, the figures show that 2,193 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 4pm on Saturday.

Taking in the average over the past seven days the rate of infection in Essex now stands at 141 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 187.

The rate of infection in Colchester is stands at 70 cases per 100,000 people over the past seven days.

In Tendring, the case total stands at 1,605, with a rate of infection of 60 per 100,000 people over the past seven days.

A total of 1,514 cases have now been recorded in Braintree, while the infection rate stands at 112.

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.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 15,871 over the period to 1,605,172.

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