The number of recorded coronavirus cases in Thurrock increased by 168 over the last 24 hours, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 3,777 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Thursday (December 10) in Thurrock, up from 3,609 the same time on Wednesday.

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 2,166 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 2,721.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 20,964 over the period to 1,787,783.

Thurrock's cases were among the 100,178 recorded across the East of England, a figure which rose by 2,389 over the period.

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