A FURTHER 19 residents have tested positive for coronavirus over the weekend.

Data released by Public Health England (PHE) confirmed 13 new cases of covid-19 on Saturday, with six more positive test results reported on Sunday.

Over 2,000 new cases were confirmed across the UK, with over 360,000 test processed.

There are currently 930 people across the UK being treated in hospital for the virus, with 73 patients on ventilation.

At the peak of the pandemic in early April, just under 20,000 people were receiving hospital treatment for covid-19, whilst over 3,300 of those patients were in mechanical ventilation beds.

Over the weekend, reports emerged claiming that PHE would be broken up.

The Sunday Telegraph reported that the covid-19 response work of PHE will be merged with NHS Test and Trace to form a new body designed to deal with pandemics.

Other aspects of its work – such as tackling obesity – could be handed over to councils and family doctors.

Scientists and NHS trusts said if ministers are unhappy with PHE they only have themselves to blame as it is directly under ministerial control.