ALMOST 600 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Berkshire in the past 24 hours.

Public Health England has recorded 597 lab-confirmed cases in areas including Reading, Bracknell, Wokingham, West Berkshire, Slough and Windsor and Maidenhead in the last day.

These figures are correct as of Monday, January 11, and bring to total cases in Berkshire to 38,022.

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The local breakdown for the past 24 hours as follows:

  • Bracknell - 99 (total 5,055)
  • Wokingham - 77 (total 5,879)
  • West Berkshire - 68 (total 4,213)
  • Slough - 160 (total 9,828)
  • Windsor and Maidenhead - 87 (total 6,045)
  • Reading - 106 (7,002)

The latest seven-day rate per 100,000 people locally are as follows:

  • Bracknell - 698.5
  • Wokingham - 538.8
  • West Berkshire - 343.3
  • Slough - 1059.9
  • Windsor and Maidenhead - 624.7
  • Reading - 709.6

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There have been 46,169 cases of Covid-19 across the UK in the past 24 hours according to figures as of 6.03pm (Jan 11). The total now stands at 3,118,518 positive cases.

In today's national coronavirus news:

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has pleaded with the public to follow coronavirus lockdown rules and reduce all social contact that is not “absolutely” necessary.

He told a Downing Street press conference that the new variant of coronavirus is “highly contagious and it is putting the NHS under very significant pressure”.

Mr Hancock added: “The NHS, more than ever before, needs everybody to be doing something right now – and that something is to follow the rules.

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“I know there has been speculation about more restrictions, and we don’t rule out taking further action if it is needed, but it is your actions now that can make a difference.

“Stay at home, and please reduce all social contact that is not absolutely strictly necessary. That’s what is needed: act like you have the virus.”

A total of 2.6 million vaccine doses have been given to 2.3 million people in the UK so far according to the Health Secretary.