A SLIGHT increase in the number of new cases of coronavirus has been confirmed across Cheshire East and West in the latest Public Health England figures.

New data shows that 116 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus in Cheshire East and 118 in Cheshire West, bringing the total to 234 across the two boroughs.

These figures cover the 24-hour period up to 9am today, February 4.

It means that Cheshire East has had 18,223 cases since the pandemic began, while Cheshire West has recorded 19,128.

Today’s figure of 234 is up slightly on yesterday’s total of 208.

Both boroughs are continuing to see their seven-day infection rates fall although the figures have risen a small amount since yesterday.

In Cheshire East, the rate is now 196.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 195 yesterday, after 756 cases were confirmed in the past seven days.

The rate in Cheshire West has also risen slightly to 274.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 267.9 yesterday, with 942 cases confirmed in the past week.