A FURTHER 70 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Sussex since Friday.

Nationally, the rate of infection has been growing, and there are fears of a second wave of the virus.

There were 3,330 new cases in the UK on Sunday and the total is now 368,504.

Since Friday, there have been 24 further cases in Brighton and Hove, where 962 people have now tested positive since the start of the pandemic.

In East Sussex, 15 cases were reported over the weekend and the total is now 1,846. In West Sussex, 31 new cases were recorded, bringing the county’s figure to 3,177.

The national death toll has risen by 14 since Friday, bringing the government’s total to 41,614.

Separate figures published by the ONS show 57,400 deaths have been registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

The figures are typically lower over the weekend due to a reporting lag.

No new deaths were recorded in Sussex.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust has recorded 149 deaths. Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s total is 114.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust has recorded 100 deaths, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust has reported 260, and there have been 18 at the Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust.

As the number of cases rises, new rules will be introduced to curb the spread of the virus. Social gatherings of more than six people indoors or outdoors will outlawed in England from tomorrow. Previous rules allowed groups of up to 30 to meet.