Covid: UK reports record 129,471 new cases

A further 129,471 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases have been recorded in the UK as of 9am on Tuesday, the Government said. The total does not include any data for Scotland or Northern Ireland.

The Government said a further 18 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19.

The data published on December 28 is incomplete due to holidays and does not include any data for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have now been 173,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

There were 1,374 Covid-19 hospital admissions in England on December 26, NHS England said.

This is up 48% week-on-week and is the highest number since February 11.

During the second wave of coronavirus, admissions peaked at 4,134 on January 12.

A total of 9,546 people were in hospital in England with Covid-19 as of 8am on December 28, according to new figures from NHS England.

This is up 38% from a week earlier and is the highest number since March 3.

During the second wave of coronavirus, the number peaked at 34,336 on January 18.

In London, 3,024 people were in hospital with Covid-19 on December 28, up 59% week-on-week and the highest number since February 19.

The second-wave peak for London was 7,917 on January 18.