THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Southampton increased by 32 over the last 24 hours, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 1,627 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Thursday (October 22) in Southampton, up from 1,595 the same time on Wednesday.

It comes after another coronavirus death was reported at Southampton General Hospital, bringing the total at the hospital up to 202.

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.

The rate of infection in Southampton now stands at 644 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 1,221.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 21,238 over the period, to 810,467.

​Southampton's cases were among the 62,092 recorded across the South East, a figure which rose by 1,189 over the period.

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