The number of recorded coronavirus cases in Thurrock increased by 18 over the last 24 hours, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 983 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Friday (October 16) in Thurrock, up from 965 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 Thurrock now stands at 564 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 1,039.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 15,635 over the period, to 689,257.

​Thurrock's cases were among the 39,958 recorded across the East of England, a figure which rose by 577 over the period.

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