THE number of diagnosed Covid-19 cases in Reading grew by 37 yesterday (October 22).

Public Health England figures show that 1,372 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Thursday in Reading, up from 1,335 the same time on Wednesday.

READ MORE: Revealed: Ghost map of Reading and West Berkshire shows the most haunted locations

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 Reading now stands at 848 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.

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

READ MORE: Free school meals: How did YOUR MP vote?

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