THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in the borough increased by 261 in the latest daily statistics, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 261 cases were confirmed in Wigan borough by 9am on Tuesday, October 13.

The health body is now including Pillar Two tests – those carried out by in the wider community – alongside Pillar One tests, which are analysed in hospitals or laboratories and which made up the first stage of the Government's mass testing programme.

Leigh and its surrounding areas, along with the whole of Greater Manchester, were placed under the second tier of coronavirus restrictions it was announced on Monday.

Restrictions include people not socialising with anybody outside of their household or support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place.

In the borough overall, 5,683 people had been confirmed as testing positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

This means the overall rate of infection in the borough now stands at 1,729.1 cases per 100,000 people, higher than the England average of 960.1.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases in yesterday's numbers increased by 17,232 over the period, to 634,920.

​The borough's cases were among the 132,328 recorded across the North West, a figure which rose by 4,510 over the period.

Cumulative case counts include patients who are currently unwell, asymptomatic, have recovered and those that have died.