SWINDON'S infection rate is starting to rise as 10 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in the borough.

There have been 57 positive Covid-19 test results recorded in the last seven days, which is 22 more than the week before - a rise of 62.9 per cent.

As of June 2, Swindon's infection rate is 23 cases per 100,000 population, though it was in the low teens during the last week of May.

The government said one more person had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Monday, bringing the UK total to 127,841.

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have now been 153,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

The government added that, as of 9am on Monday, there had been a further 5,683 lab-confirmed cases in the UK.

Covid-19 case rates are rising in more local areas of the UK than at any point since early January, with numbers increasing in almost all parts of north-west England, London and Scotland, new analysis shows.

The figures come as Health Secretary Matt Hancock indicated ministers at Westminster were open to delaying the easing of restrictions in England scheduled for June 21.

The rise in rates has yet to be mirrored by a steady increase in Covid-19 hospital cases, however, with the latest data showing patient numbers have climbed slightly to levels last seen at the end of May.

Nearly three-quarters of local areas of the UK (283 out of 380) recorded a week-on-week rise in Covid-19 case rates for the seven days to June 2.

This is the highest proportion since January 6.