THE number of coronavirus cases in the North-East and North Yorkshire has dramatically increased - but there's a fairly simple explanation.

This week hundreds of extra Covid-19 cases appeared in towns across the UK with a significant increase in parts of our region.

County Durham, which previously had 2,065 cases as of figures on June 29, saw a total of 3,300 cases recorded a week later.

Darlington, which previously had 409 cases over the same period, saw a total of 601 cases, as of figures published on July 6.

But this is because Public Health England have included positive Covid-19 cases that took place in the 'wider population' from April onwards.

Previously the number of cases were based on figures from 'Pillar 1' - these are tests carried out in Public Health England labs and NHS hospitals.

'Pillar 2' is defined as swab testing for the wider population and includes swab testing by commercial providers.

But from July 2, the reporting of cases was changed to reflect a more accurate number of cases with tests from both 'Pillar 1' and 'Pillar 2' being included.

Public Health England also audited its figures and removed 30,302 extra cases, where a person had tested positive more than once, from the UK's total.

A statement from PHE said: "Numbers of lab-confirmed positive cases throughout this website (national, regional and local authority level) now include those identified by testing in all settings (pillars 1 and 2).

"Due to this change many cases previously not attributed to any area are now included in area totals.

"This is not a recent surge in cases – the cases now being reported occurred from April onwards."

The number of daily coronavirus deaths in the UK has not been affected by this change in how cases are recorded.

Here's the updated case numbers in your part of the region - as of figures published on July 6: