THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Essex and Southend have increased by over 200 in the last 24 hours, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that in Essex, 19,005 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Tuesday (November 24) - a rise in 202 cases.

This was up from 18,803 the same time on Monday.

Public Health England figures also show that 2,291 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Tuesday in Southend.

This was a rise in 26 cases, up from 2,265 the same time on Monday.

The rate of infection in Essex now stands at 1,276 cases per 100,000 people and in Southend stands at 1,251 cases per 100,000 people - both far lower than the England average of 2,354.

Cases in Southend and Essex were among the 79,680 recorded across the East of England, a figure which rose by 914 over the period.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 11,299 over the period, to 1,538,794.

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.

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