The UK has recorded 25,161 new COVID-19 cases and 37 more coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period, according to government data. 

The figures compare with 27,429 infections and 39 fatalities reported on Sunday, while this time last week 21,952 cases and 24 deaths were announced.

Since the pandemic began, a total of 130,357 people have died in the UK within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus, and there have been 6,094,243 confirmed infections.

Meanwhile, 22,843 people had their first dose of a COVID vaccine on Sunday, taking the total to 47,059,639.

And 122,070 had their second jab, meaning 39,551,538 are now fully inoculated.

Last week, the government launched a new campaign urging young people to get their jabs or risk missing out “on the good times”.

And latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggest vaccine hesitancy among the young has fallen.

The ONS survey looked at attitudes towards the jab between 13 June and 18 July and showed that hesitancy in 16-17-year-olds has decreased from 14% to 11%.

Among those aged 18-21, hesitancy went down to 5% from 9% and there was also a slight drop for 22-25-year-olds from 10% to 9%.

Meanwhile, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told Sky News he would like staff in his department to come into the office “at least” two or three days a week.

He said: “I think we should try to come in maybe 2-3 days a week at least.

“But it’s a gradual process, no one is being forced back against their will.

“You’ve got to make the environment very safe but I think it is probably quite a good thing to spend more time in the week at work, that’s just a personal view.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak last week spoke of the benefits of working in an office, stressing the positive impact it had on his early career.

Also, Health Secretary Sajid Javid has written to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) requesting a “rapid high-level” review of the costs of PCR tests for travellers.

PCR tests, which use a swab to detect the virus, typically cost around £75 for those who need them to travel abroad but some have complained there is a significant price difference between more than 400 firms which offer tests.

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

“The cost of PCR testing can act as a barrier, especially for families who want to travel together,” Mr Javid said in his letter to CMA chief executive Andrea Coscelli.

“It is not right if some families experience yet further disruption unnecessarily because of practices in the market for private travel tests.”

Related posts:

England fans urged to ‘drown out boos’ when players take the knee at Euro 2020 – but Scotland opt for different gesture New rail pass and vouchers for tourist attractions part of tourism recovery plan Murder accused signed note in his own blood of pact with devil to ‘win lottery’, trial told Fans break through security barriers and run into Wembley ahead of Euro 2020 final How the England and Italy players rated in the Euro 2020 final ‘It starts at the top’: PM’s burka comments highlighted amid condemnation of football racism Hospital admissions could peak at 1,000 to 2,000 a day during COVID third wave, scientists believe Daily lateral flow testing for double-jabbed contacts of COVID cases to start on Tuesday ‘UK’s largest ever’ bird flu outbreak reported in Northern Ireland ‘One of the biggest days’: £700m contracts for offshore Scottish wind farm projects awarded Man who randomly attacked five people in Manchester shopping centre with knife sentenced Man jailed for 1990 rape of teenager out walking her dog – and victim ‘didn’t know if she would live or die’