The number of new daily confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK has topped 60,000 for the first time since the pandemic started.
According to government figures on Tuesday, the number of people who have tested positive was 60,916.
A further 830 people have died within 28 days of a positive test, up from 407 on Monday.
It comes as England and Scotland announced new lockdowns, with people told to stay at home.
At a press conference at Downing Street on Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said 1.3 million people had now been vaccinated in the UK.
He said 23% of people aged over 80 - some 650,000 people - in England had now had the vaccine.
Mr Johnson was joined by the government's chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.
Mr Whitty said data showed an estimated one in 50 people in private households in England had Covid-19 between 27 December and 2 January - "really quite a large number indeed".
The number of new daily cases has consistently been above 50,000 since 29 December.
Back in the first peak of the pandemic in the spring, the number of daily confirmed cases never went over 7,000.
However, it is thought the true number of cases then was much higher but not picked up because testing capacity was limited. It was estimated that there were about 100,000 new infections a day at the end of March - but there was not the testing to detect it.
Latest Stories
-
Trump says ready to use military, national emergency for mass deportations
1 hour -
Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy protection
1 hour -
Diddy called witnesses from prison, prosecutors say
1 hour -
Cholera outbreak: Central region records 7 deaths, 47 confirmed and 720 suspected cases
1 hour -
Regions begin receiving EC’s election materials ahead of polls
2 hours -
Eudirok Investment launches Regional Smart Cities Project
2 hours -
Expired rice: I’m disappointed in Frema Opare’s comment, she also wants to be clearing agent – Ablakwa
2 hours -
Prof. Samuel Ato Duncan launches historic blueprint for global sustainable peace
2 hours -
‘My heart bleeds’- Kurt Okraku reacts to Black Stars’ AFCON failure
3 hours -
Life Care Technology MD Ing. Bishoy Fouad honoured at 2024 Ghana Philanthropy Awards
3 hours -
I won’t resign as Black Stars coach – Otto Addo
4 hours -
Free SHS: Expired rice distribution saga is mere propaganda – Chief of Staff
4 hours -
We knew we could beat Ghana- Niger coach Badou Zaki
4 hours -
Former NSMQ ‘shark’ returns to school, says the future is bright
4 hours -
AFCON 2025Q: Ghana lose 2-1 to Niger at home to end disastrous campaign
4 hours