THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Somerset increased by 75 in the last 24 hours, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 21,413 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Thursday (July 1) in Somerset, up from 21,338 the same time on Wednesday.

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 3,809 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 7,229.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 27,556 over the period, to 4,828,463.

Somerset's cases were among the 243,960 recorded across the South West, a figure which rose by 1,767 over the period.

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