The Government has said a further 1,325 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 – the highest number of UK deaths reported on a single day since the outbreak began.
Yesterday 1,162 deaths were recorded, marking the second-highest number of daily deaths so far.
That was surpassed today as an additional 163 people perished. It is the third day in a row that the figure has been over 1,000.
There were a further 68,053 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, the highest figure reported in a single day since the start of mass testing last May, although it may have been higher in April 2020 when mass testing was not taking place, with cases estimated to have been as high as 100,000 per day at the peak of the first wave.
US surpasses 4,000 daily deaths
Meanwhile, the US has topped 4,000 daily deaths from coronavirus for the first time, breaking a record set just one day earlier.
The tally from Johns Hopkins University shows the US had 4,085 deaths.
The US had nearly 275,000 new coronavirus cases as well.
The numbers are another reminder of the worsening situation following travel for holidays and family gatherings, along with more time indoors during the winter months.
There has been a surge in cases and deaths in California, Arizona, Texas and Florida.
More than 365,000 Americans have died from coronavirus.
Related: London mayor declares ‘major incident’ with coronavirus spread ‘out of control’
