Coronavirus update in Berkshire - latest cases on Friday, January 8

[Cookham v Coronavirus]

ALMOST 1,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Berkshire in the past 24 hours, the latest figures show.

A total of 993 positive Covid-19 cases have been reported by Public Health England in Berkshire in the past day.

These lab-confirmed cases are from areas including Reading, Bracknell, Wokingham, West Berkshire, Slough and Windsor and Maidenhead.

These figures, correct as of Friday, January 8, 2021, bring the county's lab-confirmed positive Covid-19 tests to a total of 35,427, according to Public Health England.

The local breakdown for the past 24 hours as follows:

Bracknell - 157 cases, 4,656 total

Slough - 234 cases, 9,146 total

Windsor and Maidenhead - 157 cases, 5,694 total

Reading - 201 cases, 6,422 total

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

Bracknell - 815.2

Wokingham - 565.7

West Berkshire - 415.9

Slough - 1,090

Windsor and Maidenhead - 709.9

Reading - 639.8

There have been 2,957,472 cases of Covid-19 across the UK.

The total number of deaths - those with Covid-19 listed on their death certificate - across the UK has now reached 82,624.

Locally, there were nine deaths in Berkshire in the last 24 hours.

In today's national coronavirus news:

A third Covid vaccine has been approved for use in the UK as the country battles a rapid rise in cases.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved the Moderna coronavirus vaccine, the Department for Health has announced.

The new vaccine works in a similar way to the Pfizer vaccine that is already being offered by the NHS.

The Moderna vaccine requires temperatures of around -20C, similar to a normal freezer, making it easier to store and distribute.

The Government has ordered 17 million doses of the Moderna jab, but supplies will not delivered until the spring.