THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Dudley increased by 26 over the weekend, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 26,903 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am yesterday (Monday May 10) in Dudley, up from 26,877 the same time on Friday.

The rate of infection in Dudley now stands at 8,366 cases per 100,000 people, higher than the England average of 6,887.

Public Health England recently changed the way it records the figures.

Cases identified through a positive lateral flow test – those which can deliver results within half an hour – will no longer be counted if the person then takes a PCR test, which is sent to a lab to be checked, and receives a negative result within three days.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 6,174 over the period, to 4,437,217.

Dudley's cases were among the 431,302 recorded across the West Midlands, a figure which rose by 400 over the period.

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