The number of recorded coronavirus cases in Hampshire increased by 85 in the last 24 hours, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 61,243 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Thursday (March 4) in Hampshire, up from 61,158 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 Hampshire now stands at 4,430 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 6,537.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 6,573 over the period, to 4,201,358.

Hampshire's cases were among the 521,299 recorded across the South East, a figure which rose by 556 over the period.

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