The number of recorded coronavirus cases in Wiltshire increased by 360 over the last seven days, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 5,222 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 4pm on Thursday, December 3 in Wiltshire.

Kate Blackburn, director of public health for Wiltshire said this represents a significant reduction in the number of positive cases in the county from last week.

The infection rate in Wiltshire now stands at 72 – while last week it was 137 – far lower than the England average of 155.4.

Mrs Blackburn said: “I’m hoping that case rate will continue to go down because the data is a few days behind what we’re actually seeing. I’m very hopeful that will continue to go down.”

Since last week there have been five registered deaths in Wiltshire with Covid-19 on the death certificate.

The Swindon and Wiltshire Sustainability and Transformation Partnership reported an increase in the number of hospital admissions across the county.