The NUMBER of recorded coronavirus cases in Hampshire increased by 213 over the weekend, official figures show.

Public Health England figures showed that 6,995 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Monday (October 12) in Hampshire, up from 6,782 the same time on Friday.

However, while 77 cases were reported across Hampshire in the 24 hours to 9am today, Monday October 12, just five of these were reported in Basingstoke and Deane.

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.

The rate of infection in Hampshire now stands at 506 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 935.

The highest number of cases to be recorded in Hampshire in a single day was 144 on April 23, but there has been an upwards trend again in recent weeks, with 113 cases seen in one day last week (on October 6).

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 42,009 over the weekend period, to 617,688.

Hampshire's cases were among the 51,370 recorded across the South East, a figure which rose by 1,782 over the period.

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