A FURTHER 34 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Swindon since the last government update.

Public Health England figures show that 1,649 people were confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Monday in the borough following no new cases being reported on Sunday and the previous total standing at 1,615 cases.

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 made up the first stage of the government’s mass testing programme.

The rate of infection now stands at 41 cases per 100,000, lower than England’s average of 95.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases rose to 741,212.

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