More than 44,000 people have had Covid-19 in Sheffield, latest figures show

The number of positive cases reported in Sheffield by 9am on Monday (May 24) was 183 higher than last Monday, according to Public Health England

Overall, the rate of infection in Sheffield now stands at 7,619 cases per 100,000 people, higher than the England average of 6,925.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases was 12,144 higher than last Monday, with the total now standing at 4,464,900.

Sheffield's cases were among the 400,390 recorded across Yorkshire and The Humber, a figure which rose by 1,911 over the period.

Cumulative case counts include patients who are currently unwell, have recovered and those that have died.

It comes after Public Health England changed the way it reported the figures from Friday.

Revision to historical case data in England also led to the removal of 5,500 cases nationally over three days last week.

Cases that are identified through a positive lateral flow test – those which can deliver results within half an hour – are no longer being counted if the person then takes a PCR test, which is sent to a lab to be checked, and receives a negative result within three days.

Health officials are investigating a new Covid variant discovered by scientists in Sheffield which has caused 49 cases of infection, mostly in Yorkshire and the Humber region.

Public Health England (PHE) has been monitoring the VUI-21MAY-01 or AV.1 variant since April.

PHE said there was "currently no evidence that this variant causes more severe disease or renders the vaccines currently deployed any less effective".

The agency said additional testing and tracing was being carried out.

Greg Fell, director of public health in Sheffield, said his team had been monitoring the new strain "as we do with all outbreaks across the city".

This weekend he said: "Please don't be alarmed, we want you to continue doing what you have been for the past year. Follow the guidance, continue to wash your hands regularly and wear a mask indoors.

"Where cases have been identified, additional follow-up of cases, testing of contacts and targeted case-finding will be used to limit the spread of variants."

Sheffield GPs plan big vaccination drive as new Covid variant discovered in the city

NHS offers jab to 32 and 33 year olds, but some Sheffield GPs are already vaccinating people in their 20s

Brits urged not to travel in & out of 8 Indian Covid hotspots in the UK – full list