MORE than 1,800 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Sussex during the latest 24-hour reporting period.

Figures from Public Health England show cases were up by 1,861 across the county.

In Brighton and Hove 290 new cases were reported by 9am yesterday, bringing the total number of cases recorded in the city since the start of the pandemic to 8,307.

The rate of infection in Brighton and Hove stands at 2,856 cases per 100,000 people, while the England average is 4,157.

West Sussex reported the highest number of new cases, with 976 more people testing positive for the virus.

It brings the total number of cases recorded in the area to 21,578.

In East Sussex, 595 new cases were reported. It means 17,642 people have tested positive in the county, since Covid-19 hit.

The rate of infection in West Sussex is 2,498 cases per 100,000 people, while East Sussex has a rate of 3,166.

Nationally, the number of recorded cases increased by 60,916 over the period, bringing the total UK figure to 2,774,479, since the pandemic began.

There were 830 Covid-19 deaths reported across the UK, bringing the national death toll to 76,305.