Coronavirus latest: Nearly 500 cases emerge in Luton after changes to data gathering

The total number of cases in the borough now stands at 1,357 (+496).

Previous data shared by Public Health England relied solely on Pillar 1 (testing from Public Health England and NHS Hospital Trusts), but as of today (Thursday) the information includes Pillar 2 (non-clinical and commercial testing).

It has seen a radical overhaul of how coronavirus infection data is presented across the country, with hundreds of new cases emerging in individual authorities.

Luton has the 18th-highest Covid-19 infection rate among authorities in England and Wales, at 633.8 per 100,000.

Elsewhere in the county, Central Bedfordshire stands has 1204 (+426) cases while Bedford's figure has risen to 1,227 (+422).

Across the country, there have been 283,757 infections at an increase of 576 over the past 24 hours.

43,995 people have died with coronavirus in the UK, up by 89 since yesterday.