Coronavirus in Berkshire round up

LESS than 70 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Berkshire in the past 24 hours.

Public Health England has recorded 67 new lab-confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, in areas including Reading, Bracknell, Wokingham, West Berkshire, Slough and Windsor and Maidenhead.

These figures, correct as of Sunday, February 27, at 4pm bring the latest total for the county to 53,140 cases.

The local breakdown for the past 24 hours as follows:

Reading - 13 cases, 10,476 total
Bracknell - 6 cases, 6,799 total
Wokingham - 7 cases, 7,833 total
West Berkshire - 9 cases, 6,074 total
Slough - 21 cases, 14,562 total
Windsor and Maidenhead - 11 cases, 7,996 total

There have now been 4,170,519 people across the UK who have tested positive for Covid-19 - a daily increase of 7,434.

The latest seven-day rate per 100,000 people locally are as follows:

Reading - 86.5 (Compared to 150.2 on Feb 14)
Bracknell - 71 (Compared to 148.5 on Feb 14)
Wokingham - 54.3 (Compared to 102.9 on Feb 14)
West Berkshire - 77.6 (Compared to 134.4 on Feb 14)
Slough - 189.9 (Compared to 270.8 on Feb 14)
Windsor and Maidenhead - 69.3 (Compared to 119.5 on Feb 14)

In today's national coronavirus news:

Pubs, restaurants, shops and other businesses hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic will be boosted by a £5 billion grant scheme to help them reopen as the lockdown is eased.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak will announce the "restart grants" worth up to £6,000 per premises to help non-essential retailers reopen and trade safely at his Budget on Wednesday.

Hospitality, hotels, gyms, as well as personal care and leisure firms, will be eligible for up to £18,000 per premises as they are due to open later under the plans for easing lockdown.

The Treasury estimates 230,000 firms will be eligible for the higher band, which will be awarded based on their rateable value, and 450,000 shops will also be able to apply.

The £5 billion is targeted at England, but the devolved nations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive an extra £794 million in funding through the Barnett formula.

Mr Sunak said: "Our local businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic which is why we went big and went early with a multibillion-pound package of support.

"There's now light at the end of the tunnel and this £5 billion of extra cash grants will ensure our high street can open their doors with optimism."

Local authorities will be tasked with distributing the grants and will receive the funding in April.