Almost 1,500 new positive coronavirus tests have been recorded across East Lancashire since Thursday.

Data released on Sunday afternoon shows that in the last three days, across all six boroughs, 1,492 people have contracted Covid-19 – with Blackburn with Darwen registering the highest number of new cases.

Across Blackburn with Darwen 451 people have tested positive for the virus since Thursday, bringing the total number of positive cases there since the pandemic began to 4,261.

In Burnley, 268 more people tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the borough's total number of positive cases to 2,497.

The third highest number of new cases was reported in Pendle, where 240 new positive tests were registered since Thursday, with their total now sitting at 2,402.

In Hyndburn 165 people tested positive taking the total number of infections there to 1,692.

Rossendale’s total number of positive infections grew to 1,376 after 222 new cases were recorded, while the Ribble Valley’s 146 new infections since last week brought the borough’s total to 846.

The total number of positive tests for Covid-19 recorded across East Lancashire since the pandemic started now stands at 13,074.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Alongside the increase in positive tests, another three people died with coronavirus recorded on their death certificate at hospitals in Lancashire.

Two of the deaths were recorded at facilities within East Lancashire Hospitals Trust and one at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals.

No new coronavirus related deaths were recorded at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals Trust, or the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.

The total number of deaths across the county, according to figures from NHS England, now stands at 1,144.

Across the whole of England, 30,971 people have died in hospitals, where Covid-19 has been registered on their death certificate.

Of this total number, 11,816 deaths have been among the 60-79-year-old age group, with 16,545 people over the age of 80 dying with the virus.