LESS THAN 70 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the past 24 hours in Berkshire.

Public Health England has reported 66 lab-confirmed cases across Reading, Bracknell, Wokingham, West Berkshire, Slough, and Windsor and Maidenhead.

These figures, correct as of Sunday, February 28, at 4pm, bringing the county's lab-confirmed positive Covid-19 tests total to 53,441, according to Public Health England.

CLICK HERE for the latest coronavirus updates in Reading

The local breakdown for the past 24 hours as follows:

  • Reading - 12 cases, 10,488 total
  • Bracknell Forest - 6 cases, 6,805 total
  • Wokingham - 17 cases, 7,850 total
  • West Berkshire - 9 cases, 6,083 total
  • Slough - 17 cases, 14,579 total
  • Windsor and Maidenhead - 5 cases, 8,001 total

There have now been 4,176,554 people across the UK who have tested positive for Covid-19 - a daily increase of 6,035 cases across the country.

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

  • Reading - 78.5
  • Bracknell - 62.8
  • Wokingham - 58.4
  • West Berkshire - 71.3
  • Slough - 180.6
  • Windsor and Maidenhead - 68.7

CLICK HERE for the latest news in Slough

In today's national coronavirus news:

Officials have identified the first UK cases of the Manaus variant of coronavirus, a new strain that may spread more rapidly and may respond less well to existing vaccines.

Public Health England (PHE) said on Sunday that up to six cases of the concerning variant first detected in the Brazilian city have been identified in Britain, three in England and three in Scotland.

The first two cases of the P.1 strain are from one household in South Gloucestershire with a history of travel to Brazil but the third is not linked.

The whereabouts of that individual is unknown, as PHE says the person did not complete their test registration card so follow-up details are unavailable.

Officials are asking anyone who took a test on February 12 or 13 and who has not received a result or has an uncompleted test registration card to come forward immediately.