The number of coronavirus cases in Swindon increased by 498 in the last 24 hours, official figures show – and one more death was recorded.

A total of 48,867 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 in Swindon when the UK coronavirus daily dashboard was updated on January 19 (Wednesday), up from 48,369 on Tuesday.

The rate of infection in Swindon now stands at 21,925 cases per 100,000 people, lower than the England average of 23,272.

People with a positive lateral flow test no longer need to take a follow-up PCR test to confirm the result unless they have coronavirus symptoms.

There was also one more coronavirus death recorded in the latest 24-hour period in Swindon. There have been five deaths in the past week compared to six deaths in the previous week.

They were among 8,537 deaths recorded across the South West.

The figures include anyone who died within 28 days of a positive test result for Covid-19, and whose usual residence was in Swindon.

The figures also show that four in five people in Swindon have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.

The latest figures show 164,838 people had received both jabs by January 18  – 79% of those aged 12 and over, based on the number of people on the National Immunisation Management Service database.

Across England, 83% of people aged 12 and above had received a second dose of the jab.