The number of recorded coronavirus cases in Essex increased by 275 and in Southend by 32 over a 24-hour period, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 19,973 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Friday (November 27) in Essex, up from 19,698 the same time on Thursday.

In Southend, the figures show that 2,387 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Friday, up from 2,355 the same time on Thursday.

The rate of infection in Essex now stands at 1,341 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 2,430.

The rate of infection in Southend is better than the wider county and now stands at 1,304 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 2,430.

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.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 14,739 over the period to 1,589,301.

Essex's cases were among the 82,924 recorded across the East of England, a figure which rose by 949 over the period.

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