The number of recorded coronavirus cases in Herefordshire increased by five over the last 48 hours, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 898 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Friday (August 14) in Herefordshire, up from 893 the same time on Wednesday.

The daily update from PHE does not narrow cases down to a more specific location than by local authority. It means unlike counties such as Gloucestershire, which have upper and lower tier local authorities, the cases for Herefordshire cannot be seen at a more local level.

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 Herefordshire now stands at 466 cases per 100,000 people, lower than the England average of 486.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 2,569 over the period, to 316,367.

Herefordshire's cases were among the 28,413 recorded across the West Midlands, a figure which rose by 271 over the period.

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