THE NUMBER of recorded coronavirus cases in Oxfordshire increased by 27 over the bank holiday weekend, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 3,528 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Tuesday, September 1, in Oxfordshire.

The figure was up from 3,501 the same time on Friday.

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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 the first stage of the Government’s mass testing programme.

The rate of infection in Oxfordshire now stands at 510 cases per 100,000 people, lower than the England average of 517.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 5,524 over the period, to 337,168.

Oxfordshire's cases were among the 37,927 recorded across the South East, a figure which rose by 454 over the period.

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