UK endures record number of daily Covid deaths – where 1 in 10 people had it in December

New estimates from the Office For National Statistics suggest that in some parts of the country, as many as one in six people had Coronavirus in December. Across the UK, one in 10 people had it.

The impact is being felt now, with the latest 24-hour figures showing that there have been 1,610 deaths reported – the highest daily figure since the pandemic began. That takes the official total death toll to well above 90,000.

But the rise in positive tests seems to be slowing, with 33,355 new cases. And more than 204,000 people were given their first vaccination dose yesterday – but that’s the lowest number for a week.