The number of recorded coronavirus cases in Southend rose by 27 and increased in Essex by 246 over the last 24 hours, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 15,131 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Wednesday (November 11) in Essex, up from 14,885 the same time on Tuesday.

The fuigures also show that 1,778 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Wednesday (November 11) in Southend, up from 1,751 the same time on Tuesday.

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 Essex now stands at 1,016 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 1,907.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 22,950 over the period to 1,256,725.

Essex's cases were among the 65,216 recorded across the East of England, a figure which rose by 1,313 over the period.

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