THERE has been more than 1,000 positive coronavirus tests in the last nine days, up to 5pm yesterday (December 27).

During the Christmas period, Somerset West and Taunton saw the highest increase with 420 new cases, bringing the total since the start of the pandemic to 2,343.

Sedgemoor also saw a large increase, with 387 positive tests. This brings the total to 2,305.

Mendip saw an increase of 243, bringing the total to 1,464.

And South Somerset had 343 positive tests, bringing the total to 2,390.

The rates of infection during the last seven days has also increased.

In Somerset West and Taunton, the rate of infection is 234 per 100,000.

In South Somerset it is 178.8 per 100,000 and in Mendip the rate is 186 per 100,000.

Sedgemoor's rate of infection has increased to 250 per 100,000 - making it the district with the highest rate of infection.