THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in the borough increased by 186 in the latest daily statistics, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 186 cases were confirmed in Wigan borough in the 24 hours up to 9am on Wednesday, October 14.

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.

In the latest available seven-day rolling rate of infection figure, for the week up to October 10, Wigan borough had 1,235 new cases identified, at a rate of 375.8 per 100,000, the third highest in Greater Manchester.

This rate does not include the figures for days since October 10.

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, 5,869 people have 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 1,786 cases per 100,000 people, higher than the England average of 989.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 19,724 over the 24-hour period, to 654,644.

The borough’s cases were among the 136,060 recorded across the North West, a figure which rose by 3,732 over the period.

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