A FURTHER 17 people have tested positive for the coronavirus across Lancashire over the last 24 hours, the latest figures have shown.

That means in total, there are at least 8,927 cases of COVID-19 in Lancashire – 2,860 of which are in the east of the county.

The data, released by Public Health England, revealed that eight of the county’s 14 boroughs recorded at least one new case of the virus, with eight of the total number of positive cases coming from withing Blackburn with Darwen.

In the borough, which could be just weeks away from a local lockdown, 1,106 people have tested positive for the virus – that is 742.9 people per 100,000.

The next hardest hit area in East Lancashire is Pendle, where 502, or 549.2 per 100,000 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

The numbers in Blackburn and Pendle are expected to increase over the coming days with increased testing facilities across both boroughs.

The third most infected borough in the east of the county is Burnley with a rate of 507.2 infected people per 100,000 of population. There are 449 cases of the virus in and around the town.

Next up is Rossendale, with a total of 284 cases, followed by Hyndburn with 323 cases – or 399.7 infected people per 100,000.

The borough in East Lancashire with the lowest infection rate is the Ribble Valley with 196 cases.