THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Reading increased by 15 on Friday, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 1,387 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Friday (October 23) in Reading, up from 1,372 the same time on Thursday.

READ MORE: Covid-19: How many people have lost their lives in Reading's care homes?

Latest figures from the weekend have not yet been released.

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 Reading now stands at 857 cases per 100,000 people, far higher than the England average of 181.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 20,531 over the period, to 830,998.

READ MORE: 'SHAMEFUL': YOUR reactions to MP's school meals vote

​Reading's cases were among the 63,340 recorded across the South East, a figure which rose by 1,248 over the period.

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