The number of recorded coronavirus cases in Southend increased by five in 24 hours, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 680 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Friday (July 17) in Southend, up from 675 the same time on Thursday.

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 Southend now stands at 373 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 450.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 687 over the period, to 293,239.

Southend's cases were among the 23,983 recorded across the East of England, a figure which rose by 59 over the period.

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

As of 5pm on Thursday, 45,233 people had died from coronavirus across the UK.