THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Bury increased by 63 over the last 24 hours, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 3,515 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Friday (October 9) in Bury, up from 3,452 the same time on Thursday.

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 Bury now stands at 1,840 cases per 100,000 people, far higher than the England average of 873.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 13,864 over the period, to 575,679.

​Bury's cases were among the 116,646 recorded across the North West, a figure which rose by 2,471 over the period.

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

Nottingham continues to have the highest rate in England, with 2,532 new cases recorded in the seven days to October 6 - the equivalent of 760.6 cases per 100,000 people.

This is a huge jump from 158.3 per 100,000 in the seven days to September 29.

Knowsley has the second highest rate, which has leapt from 391.1 to 657.6, with 992 new cases.

Liverpool is in third place, where the rate has also increased sharply, from 419.0 to 599.9 with 2,988 new cases.

Other areas recording big jumps in their seven-day rates include Manchester (up from 421.6 to 524.7, with 2,901 new cases); Newcastle upon Tyne (up from 355.7 to 516.1, with 1,563 new cases); Exeter (up from 79.9 to 438.3, with 576 new cases); and Sheffield (up from 171.2 to 426.8, with 2,496 new cases).