THERE have been 276 new positive coronavirus tests in the North-East and North Yorkshire.

Nationally, the Government said a further 51 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Thursday, bringing the UK total to 126,764.

Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies show there have been 150,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

The Government also said that, as of 9am on Thursday, there had been a further 4,479 lab-confirmed cases in the UK.

It brings the total to 4,350,266.

Here is a breakdown of the confirmed cases across the region since the pandemic began: County Durham 37,590 was 37,541, Darlington: 7,396 was 7,379, Gateshead: 13,642 was 13,627, Hartlepool: 8,783 was 8,765, Middlesbrough: 12,326 was 12,309, Newcastle: 23,206 was 23,185, North Tyneside: 12,313 was 12,298, North Yorkshire: 29,279 was 29,233, Redcar and Cleveland: 9,232 was 9,223, South Tyneside: 11,267 was 11,254, Stockton: 15,690 was 15,656, Sunderland: 21,878 was 21,859, York: 12,201 was 12,198.

Total increase: 276

Public Health England has claimed case rates have dropped slightly in all regions of England.

Yorkshire and the Humber recorded the highest rate in the week to March 28, with 109.1 cases per 100,000 people, down slightly week-on-week from 112.2.