THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Hampshire increased by 187 over the weekend, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 62,436 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Monday (March 22) in Hampshire, up from 62,249 the same time on Friday.

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 4,516 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 6,687.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 16,241 over the period, to 4,301,925.

Hampshire's cases were among the 530,019 recorded across the South East, a figure which rose by 1,350 over the period.

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