Covid: UK death toll rises by 671 as 38,598 new cases reported
A further 671 people have died within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test and 38,598 more people have tested positive for coronavirus.
The deaths, recorded as of 9am on Sunday morning, mean that 89,261 people have died with Covid in the UK, while 3,395,959 people have tested positive for the virus.
Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show there have now been 105,000 deaths involving coronavirus in the UK.
As of the end of Saturday, 3,857,266 people have had at least one dose of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Oxford and AstraZeneca vaccines.
The 38,598 new Covid cases is the lowest number reported in 2021, however, experts have warned that hospitals are still in danger of becoming overwhelmed and urged people to follow the restrictions.
NHS England’s chief executive, Sit Simon Stevens, told BBC’s Andrew Marr show on Sunday that 140 jabs are being delivered “every minute”, but warned the health service has never been in a more precarious position and that someone is being admitted to hospital with coronavirus “every 30 seconds”.
This means any lifting of Covid restrictions is not currently part of the immediate plan.
“We hope by early spring to be in a better place,” he told ITV News.
England
A further 631 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 60,921, NHS England said on Sunday. Patients were aged between 29 and 103. All except 31, aged between 46 and 93, had known underlying health conditions. The deaths were between November 5 and January 16. There were 36 other deaths reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.
Scotland
No new deaths have been reported in Scotland, where the death toll stands at 5,305.
1,341 new cases have been reported, which takes the total number of positive cases since the start of the pandemic to 162,333.
Northern Ireland
The Department of Health said: "822 individuals have tested positive for Covid-19 in the past 24 hours. Sadly, a further 25 deaths have been reported (four outside the 24 hour period)."
Wales
In Wales, cases rose by 1,172, which takes the total figure to 180,161.
The death toll increased by 48, meaning the total number now stands at 4,274.