A FURTHER 118 people have tested positive in Berkshire over the past 24 hours.

Figures from Public Health Berkshire, using Office of National Statistics (ONS) updates, have reported the latest details which takes the county's total to 53,570 positive cases since the pandemic began.

The number of cases across Berkshire relate to areas including Reading, Bracknell, Wokingham, West Berkshire, Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead.

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The local breakdown for the past 24 hours as follows:

  • Reading - 19 cases, total 10,441
  • Bracknell - 17 cases, total 6,786
  • Wokingham - 19 cases, total 7,814
  • West Berkshire - 13 cases, total 6,040
  • Slough 36, total 14, 515
  • Windsor 14, total 7,974

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The local seven-day rate of infection per 100,000 people is as per below:

  • Reading - 81 (Compared to 176.8 on Feb 13)
  • Bracknell Forest - 80 (Compared to 164.8 on Feb 13)
  • Wokingham - 48.5 (Compared to 112.8 on Feb 13)
  • West Berkshire - 90.2 (Compared to 148.3 on Feb 13)
  • Slough - 216 (Compared to 298.2 on Feb 13)
  • Windsor and Maidenhead - 72.6 (Compared to 132.7 on Feb 13)

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The total number of coronavirus cases recorded across the UK in the past 24 hours is 9,985. This brings the total UK cases to 4,154,562 since the pandemic began.

In today's national news:

The UK's Covid-19 alert level has been lowered as the country's top medics said the threat of the NHS being overwhelmed has receded.

The Level 5 alert was announced on January 4 as lockdown measures were introduced by Boris Johnson amid fears the health service could be swamped within 21 days.

The decision to reduce the alert to Level 4 has now been made by the UK's four chief medical officers and NHS England's medical director because the number of cases in hospital are "consistently declining".

England's Professor Chris Whitty, Northern Ireland's Dr Michael McBride, Scotland's Dr Gregor Smith, Wales's Dr Frank Atherton and NHS England's Professor Stephen Powis announced the decision on Thursday following advice from the Joint Biosecurity Centre.

A lab technician holds a Healgen Covid-19 Rapid Antigen Test. stock image by PA

A lab technician holds a Healgen Covid-19 Rapid Antigen Test. stock image by PA

They said health services across the four nations "remain under significant pressure with a high number of patients in hospital", but thanks to the efforts of the public numbers are now "consistently declining, and the threat of the NHS and other health services being overwhelmed within 21 days has receded".

They added: "We should be under no illusions - transmission rates, hospital pressures and deaths are still very high.

"In time, the vaccines will have a major impact and we encourage everyone to get vaccinated when they receive the offer.

"However for the time being it is really important that we all - vaccinated or not - remain vigilant and continue to follow the guidelines."

The announcement came as Education Secretary Gavin Williamson defended his plans for the replacement of cancelled A-level and GCSE exams in England.

He insisted results decided by teachers will be fair amid concerns the plan will lead to grades being inflated.

Mr Williamson confirmed to MPs that "no algorithm" will be used to decide grades this summer, with the judgment of teachers relied on instead and any changes made by "human intervention".

Exam boards will carry out checks to "root out malpractice", he said.