HAMPSHIRE County Council has admitted that this week's coronavirus case figures for the county are lower than the true number, due to a delay in lab test results.

In a tweet, the council said: "A lag in the receipt of test results means this week's data is an underestimate of lab confirmed cases and should be treated with caution."

The data, updated on Monday, September 21, shows that there were 107 new positive cases in Hampshire in the seven days prior, with 67 recorded across the weekend alone.

However, this new information means the actual number could be much higher.

This week's figures saw Hampshire record 7.3 cases per 100,000 population, compared to 33.8 per 100,000 across England as a whole.

Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have been contacted for comment.