Coronavirus: UK records more than 1,000 new cases for first time since June

At least eight more people have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus. Credit: PA

The UK has recorded more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases for the first time since late June, new government figures have revealed.

Britain's official death toll grew by just eight when the latest statistics were released, but there were a huge 1,062 new lab-confirmed infections recorded in the 24 hours before 9am Sunday.

The last time the number was over 1,000 was on June 26.

Experts have warned the large jump in cases might not be down to a second wave in the UK, saying the more likely explanation is that daily tests have increased.

The total number of confirmed infections in the UK has reached 310,825, while the death toll now stands at 46,574.

The figures include deaths which occurred in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK, as of 5pm on Saturday.

The UK has seen a gradual rise in coronavirus infections since it began lifting lockdown restrictions in mid-June.

The government has put the next stage of reopening, which had been due to take effect August 1, on hold for at least two weeks.

Despite a jump in confirmed cases, the number of patients in hospital with the virus continues to decline.

Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies show there have now been 56,600 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

According to NHS England, a further 10 people died in England after testing positive for Covid-19, putting the total at 29,411, while there were no reported increases in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The figures differ due to different timings and recording methods.

In England two deaths were reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.

Scotland has recorded no new coronavirus deaths for more than three weeks - meaning the total remains at 2,491 - but there has been a small spike in cases north of the border following an outbreak in Aberdeen which resulted in a tightening of restrictions there.

The death toll in England has now reached 29,411, in Wales it's 1,579 and in Northern Ireland it's 556.

The patients who died in England were aged between 45 and 89 and all had known underlying health conditions.

The region with the highest number of deaths was the Midlands with four.

There were three deaths in the North East & Yorkshire, two in the East of England and one in London.

There were no deaths reported in the North West, where local lockdown measures in place in Greater Manchester and parts of east Lancashire were extended on Friday to include Preston.