Covid: UK records 1,610 more coronavirus deaths - the highest daily figure since pandemic began

The UK has recorded a further 1,610 coronavirus deaths – the highest number reported on a single day since the outbreak began.

Public Health England said the figure was of those who had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Tuesday, bringing the UK total to 91,470.

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 108,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.

The government also said that, as of 9am on Tuesday, there had been a further 33,355 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK.

It brings the total number of cases in the UK to 3,466,849.

• Covid: UK has worst daily death rate in the world, Oxford University research shows

• 4.1m vaccine jabs given to people in England

• One in eight people in England had virus by December last year, according to ONS survey

After the latest coronavirus death figures were released, shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth tweeted: “Awful. Horrific. Devastating. And it didn’t have to be like this.”

Dr Yvonne Doyle, medical director at Public Health England, said: “Each death is a tragedy and the number of Covid-19 related deaths within 28 days of a positive test will continue for some time throughout this second wave.

“Whilst there are some early signs that show our sacrifices are working, we must continue to strictly abide by the measures in place.

“By reducing our contacts and staying at home we will see a fall in the number of infections over time.”