Covid: UK records highest number of new coronavirus infections for 11 months

The UK has recorded the highest number of new Covid-19 infections in one day, for 11 months.

In the 24 hours to 9am on Friday, a further 58,194 positive coronavirus tests were recorded, according to government figures.

The last time a higher daily figure was reported was on January 9, when 59,937 cases were logged.

The latest figures also show that a further 120 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, bringing the total death toll to 146,255.

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have now been more than 171,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

The total number of cases of the Omicron variant now stands at 1,265, after 448 additional cases of the new variant reported across the UK were confirmed on Friday.

This is the highest daily figure recorded so far, surpassing the 249 reported by the UK Health Security Agency on Thursday.

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England

In England, there were 48,908 new Covid-19 cases reported, bringing the total number of infections to 532,302.

There were 90 more Covid deaths, bringing the nation's death toll to 127,154.

Scotland

Scotland reported 5,018 more positive tests. The nation has now had a total of 757,813 infections since the start of the pandemic.

There were 19 deaths reported, meaning the death toll stands at 9,707.

Wales

There were 2,462 new infections reported in Wales, bringing the total number of positive tests to 532,302.

Welsh authorities reported nine new Covid deaths, meaning the nation has a death toll of 6,476.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland recorded 1,806 new cases and two more Covid deaths.

The total number of cases has reached 337,034, while the death toll is 2,918.