Recorded coronavirus cases in Berkshire continue to rise overnight

Three areas of Berkshire have continued to see a rise in the number of recorded coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, according to figures released by Public Health England today (August 21).

There have been nine further cases of coronavirus recorded in Berkshire. Bracknell Forest's reported cases has now remained unchanged since August 19.

Reading, Slough and Windsor have all seen increases of three cases each.

Slough has been named as an 'area of concern' by Public Health England after an increase in cases and infection rate.

Follow live updates and reaction about what it means for the town here.

UK-wide, another two people have died in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 41,405

A total of 321,313 people are confirmed to have had the virus since the start of the pandemic, an increase of 1,033 since yesterday (August 20).

In Berkshire, the number of positive tests now stands at 3,553.

This is how the figures break down in terms of cases for each area of Berkshire:

Reading : 829 cases (increase of two)
Slough : 739 cases (increase of two)
Wokingham : 619 cases (no change)

West Berkshire : 511 cases (no change)
Windsor and Maidenhead: 456 cases (increase of five)
Bracknell Forest : 399 cases (no change)
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The total number of deaths at Berkshire NHS trusts is 573, as detailed below:

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust: 365
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust: 188
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: 20

Meanwhile a top academic has warned of a second wave of coronavirus and a difficult winter ahead.

Professor Sir John Bell, regius professor of medicine at the University of Oxford, said he thinks there is a “really bumpy” winter on the way, especially with the additional risk of flu.

The expert also pointed out the importance of easy-to-access tests which are non-invasive, particularly for schools and universities.

Speaking on a Royal Society of Medicine webinar, Prof Bell said: “My bet is that we will get a second wave, and the vaccines won’t get here in time to stop the second wave.

“And I’m not sure the new home testing is going to get there in time either, but it perhaps will take the edge off it.

But then I suspect by Christmas or early in the new year, there may be more than one option for vaccines.

“My suspicion is the vaccines will work a bit, they won’t sterilise people, but they’ll take the edge off the disease, and they’ll definitely be worth using in a population.

“But they won’t… they’re not going to solve this problem. And by the way, the rest of the world is still going to have Covid going through the winter.”