The UK has recorded another 30,215 coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour period.

A further 86 people have died within 28 days of a positive COVID test, daily government figures show – taking the total to 130,086 since the start of the pandemic.

On Wednesday, 29,312 new cases and 119 deaths were recorded.

Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world

This time last week, on 29 July, the UK reported 31,117 positive COVID-19 cases and 85 related deaths.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a total of 5,982,581 coronavirus cases in the UK.

73.5% of the UK’s adult population is now fully inoculated after 165,669 people received their second dose of a coronavirus jab yesterday – taking the total to 38,874,837.

33,334 people received their first dose, which means 46,926,330 adults (88.7%) in the UK have been given at least one vaccination.

It comes as the number of NHS “pingdemic” alerts dropped by 43% in a week after the sensitivity of the app was updated.

A total of 395,971 alerts were sent to users in the week to 28 July telling them they had been in close contact with someone who had tested positive for coronavirus, government figures show – down from 689,313 alerts the previous week.

The “logic” behind the mechanism of the app was altered so now it only looks back at contacts two days before someone who is asymptomatic tests positive. Previously, it looked at contacts up to five days prior.

Public Health England (PHE) has published its weekly COVID surveillance data, which has found hospital admissions related to the virus are highest in the North East.

It also revealed hospital admissions remain highest among those aged 85 or over.

However, the data does also show around 66,900 hospital admissions have been prevented in those aged 65 and over as a direct result of the vaccine rollout.

Meanwhile, Britons’ holiday plans have been upended, after the government announced changes to the travel list on Wednesday.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Fully vaccinated travellers and under-18s arriving in England from France will no longer have to isolate, while India, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE are being removed from the red list, meaning travellers no longer have to pay thousands of pounds to quarantine in a hotel for 11 days.

There were concerns that Spain, where it is thought up to a million Britons are currently on holiday, could be added to the red list, however, the country will remain in the amber category – although travellers are advised to take a test after flying home.

Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker.

Elsewhere, President Joe Biden is facing mounting pressure to open up the United States to international visitors.

Americans will soon be able to travel to England and Canada without quarantine – so long as they are fully vaccinated – but the US is still enforcing a strict border policy.

This week, the White House insisted there are no plans to lift any restrictions due to growing fears over the highly transmissible Delta variant.

Related posts:

Deaths in England were almost 30% higher last month than five-year average for January ‘Teachers know us better than an algorithm’: Students support exam grades decision ‘It didn’t hurt at all’: Queen urges people unsure about COVID jab to get vaccinated Animal rescue charity’s centres ‘at capacity’ due to lockdown puppies Roadmap on track: PM approves further easing of lockdown restrictions ‘Criminal gangs’ encouraging children into violence on Northern Ireland’s streets, say police Rail passengers told ‘not to travel’ on second day of disruption after cracks found on trains Newborn baby found dead in London canal Rail minister calls for ‘urgent plan’ from train operators as crack disruption continues Durham professor who called students ‘pathetic’ for staging walkout steps back from some duties ‘A beautiful day’: Extinction Rebellion trio cleared and Insulate Britain protesters released from jail Omicron ‘exit wave’ possible in the summer, scientists say