The number of people who have tested positive for the coronavirus in Blackburn with Darwen has increased by 26 in the last 24 hours, according to daily figures from Public Health England.

However, the daily rate of infection is STILL in decline.

The newest data shows that as of 9am on Tuesday, 1,340 people across the borough had been confirmed as testing positive for the virus, which is up from 1,314 at the same time on Monday.

The TOTAL rate of infection in Blackburn with Darwen, since data began to be collected, now stands at 900 cases per 100,000 people, which is more than double the average for England, which is 463 cases per 100,000 people.

This cumulative total include patients who are currently unwell, have recovered and those that have died.

However, the rolling seven-day rate of new cases of Covid-19 is much lower than the cumulative total.

In Blackburn with Darwen, that rolling-seven day rate has remained broadly unchanged at 79.2 cases per 100,000 in the seven days to July 25, compared with 79.9 in the seven days to July 18.

A total of 118 new cases have been recorded in that seven-day time period.

The figures are based on tests carried out in laboratories - classed as pillar one of the government's testing programme - and those taken in the wider communities such as the mobile testing sites located at different sites across the county - these are classed as pillar two.

Data for the most recent three days, ie, from July 26 to July 28, has been excluded as it is incomplete and likely to be revised.

Still second on the list is Leicester, where the rate also continues to fall and is now down from 75.2 to 56.0, with 199 new cases in the last seven days.

In third place is Oldham, where the rate has jumped from 14.9 to 53.9 cases per 100,000 people, with 127 new cases.