THE NUMBER of recorded coronavirus cases in Oxfordshire increased by six over the last 24 hours, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 3,542 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Thursday (September 3) in Oxfordshire, up from 3,536 the same time on Wednesday.

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.

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The rate of infection in Oxfordshire now stands at 512 cases per 100,000 people, lower than the England average of 522.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 1,735 over the period, to 340,411.

​Oxfordshire's cases were among the 38,127 recorded across the South East, a figure which rose by 97 over the period.

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

Oxford Health announced last week that the city is on 'amber alert' due to the increase in coronavirus cases.