THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Bracknell Forest increased by eight over the weekend, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 7,118 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Monday (May 10) in Bracknell Forest, up from 7,110 the same time on Friday.

The health body recently changed the way it records the figures.

Cases identified through a positive lateral flow test – those which can deliver results within half an hour – will no longer be counted if the person then takes a PCR test, which is sent to a lab to be checked, and receives a negative result within three days.

The rate of infection in Bracknell Forest now stands at 5,808 cases per 100,000 people, lower than the England average of 6,887.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 6,174 over the period, to 4,437,217.

Bracknell Forest's cases were among the 541,958 recorded across the South East, a figure which rose by 546 over the period.

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