The UK has recorded 181 COVID deaths and 6,753 cases in the latest 24-hour period.

The number of deaths is 61 fewer than last Thursday (4 March), when 242 were reported.

Positive coronavirus tests have risen slightly, week-on-week, by 180.

Just over 23m people have now had a first vaccine dose, with 341,049 administered in the latest daily timeframe.

The number of people who have had both doses now stands at 1,351,515.

Yesterday, the government reported a further 190 coronavirus deaths and 5,926 cases.

A first jab has now been given to 88.9% of the over-60s.

Latest figures also show that around one in five people (21.8%) aged 16 to 59 have had a first dose too.

Four new cases of the Brazil variant of COVID-19 have been detected in England.

Three of them were found in South Gloucestershire and are said to be close or household contacts of another two cases previously discovered in the area.

The other case was found in Bradford, West Yorkshire, after the person tested positive late last month having travelled back from Brazil via Paris on 14 February.

Public Health England said: “Contact tracing teams have followed up close contacts of the individual and advised them to isolate and get a test.”

The new positive tests bring the number of cases of the variant – named P1 – detected in the UK to ten – seven in England and three in Scotland.

Related posts:

Liverpool and Chelsea secure spots in next season’s Champions League Liverpool and Chelsea secure spots in next season’s Champions League ‘A tremendous act of love’: Flood of donations across UK after appeals to help Afghan refugees Person on no-fly list flown into UK from Afghanistan during evacuation operation Injunction granted against protesters blocking M25, amid warning of prison sentence Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe refused to shield in prison before dying of COVID-19, inquest hears Five arrested in dawn raid after 2.3 tonnes of cocaine worth £190m seized from luxury yacht Dreams of a white Christmas come true for parts of the UK – with heavy rain forecast later for others ‘Mischievous twinkle as bright at the end as when I set eyes on him’: Queen’s Christmas message tribute to Philip Online post-Christmas sales shopping to increase but people to spend more, survey finds What are the main points in Prince Andrew’s defence? Man drove without insurance or a licence for more than 70 years, police say