A FURTHER 21 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been recorded for the Cheshire West and Chester area in the latest 24-hour reporting period, according to Government data.

That represents the biggest one-day increase since May and brings the total number of confirmed cases for the area since the pandemic began to 2,249.

The increase of 21 cases in the 24-hour period up to 4.32pm today (September 11) is 12 more than the number reported in the previous day's update.

Although cases are on the rise, the Countess of Chester Hospital Trust has, to date, not registered a death for nearly eight weeks.

Earlier this week, Cheshire West and Chester Council urged people under 35 to "be more Covid conscious" following a rise in the number of positive coronavirus cases among this age group in the borough.

The council's director of public health, Ian Ashworth, says it's vital people are not "complacent" otherwise stricter measures may have to be imposed like in other areas of the country.

Factors leading to a rise in reported cases include the easing of lockdown measures, which have seen more people gathering in public places, and a significantly increased testing programme compared to earlier in the pandemic.

Social gatherings of more than six people will be illegal across England from Monday (September 14) as the Government tackles the rise in coronavirus cases.

The total number of people who have died in Cheshire hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus stands at 726.

The Countess of Chester Hospital Trust has recorded 227 deaths (last recorded July 18), Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has recorded 214 deaths, the last on August 31; East Cheshire NHS Trust 146 (last recorded July 22), and Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 139 (last recorded August 24).