HIGH numbers of positive Covid-19 cases has seen the Isle of Wight's rolling rate surpass the UK average.

The Island's rolling rate, per 100,000 people, went from 286 yesterday, to 335.9 today.

While the Island has spent many months well below the UK average rate, it has now caught up and overtaken. The UK rate is currently 294.7.

The rolling rate is always five days behind.

The government's interactive map, which uses increasingly dark colours to show the average rolling rate of infections, currently shows Cowes as having the most cases.

A further 63 cases have been added today to the Island's tally of confirmed cases. Yesterday (Monday) there were 69 and there were 126 on Sunday.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 8,931 cases recorded on the Island.

There remains confusion over how many people are in St Mary's Hospital, as the Isle of Wight NHS Trust says the government data is wrong.

The government website, where the media are directed to get statistics, is still showing 36 Covid patients in hospital, and has been showing that since Thursday afternoon.

However, the trust said there were only five Covid patients in on August 9 and 10, and one Friday there was just one.