THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Somerset increased by 122 over the weekend, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 20,853 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Monday (June 21) in Somerset, up from 20,731 the same time on Friday.

The health body recently changed the way it records the figures.

Cases identified through a positive lateral flow test – those which can deliver results within half an hour – will no longer be counted if the person then takes a PCR test, which is sent to a lab to be checked, and receives a negative result within three days.

These cases are now being removed daily.

The rate of infection in Somerset now stands at 3,709 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 7,186.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 29,614 over the period, to 4,640,507.

Somerset's cases were among the 232,086 recorded across the South West, a figure which rose by 2,244 over the period.

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