The UK has recorded 30,439 new COVID-19 cases and 43 more coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period, according to government data.

The figures compare with 30,301 new COVID-19 cases and 121 deaths reported yesterday, and 6,042 cases and 34 deaths reported on Sunday a week ago.

It takes the total number of deaths within 28 days of a positive test to 136,953 – greater than the population of Ipswich (136,913) according to a population estimate published the Office for National Statistics.

The daily figure is an increase of 2,663 people (1.1%) in people testing positive, but marks a drop of 180 deaths (18.7%) over the last seven days.

A total of 48,928,952 people have now received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine and 44,969,396 have received a second dose.

The new cases and deaths update was published before the daily update of vaccination numbers.

Yesterday’s daily number for second doses was 33,926. A similar figure on Sunday could see the total number of people who have received a second dose in the UK rise above 45 million.

COVID-19: Jurgen Klopp says refusing vaccine is like drink-driving as it endangers others

COVID-19: Mother warns coronavirus ‘can happen to anybody’ after teenage daughter dies on day she was to get vaccine

COVID-19: UK records 30,301 new cases and 121 more coronavirus-related deaths, daily figures show

It comes ahead of England’s travel rules being relaxed starting on Monday, allowing people to be more confident about making plans.

The rules change follow Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp saying that refusing to take a coronavirus vaccine is similar to drink-driving, as it endangers other people.

Speaking about vaccination, the 54-year-old German said he didn’t understand how the coronavirus jab could be viewed by anti-vaxxers as a “limitation on freedom” – and revealed 99% of his Liverpool players are vaccinated.

Tens of thousands of people took part in the first London Marathon in more than two years on Sunday, as runners were treated to sunshine and settled conditions after a wet and windy Saturday.

Sky News’ Enda Brady also completed the race after recovering from COVID-19, which had left him bed-bound and struggling to breathe.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

More than 40,000 people donned their trainers to tackle the traditional 26.2-mile route from Greenwich to The Mall, following the cancellation of the 2020 race and delay to the 2021’s due to COVID restrictions.

Sisay Lemma of Ethiopa, who came third last year, won the men’s elite race in exactly 2:04.01, while the women’s was won by Kenyan Joyciline Jepkosgei in 2:17.42 – making her the seventh-fastest woman in history.

Related posts:

‘Appalling scenes’: Parks forced to close as sunseekers brawl and leave behind piles of rubbish Crime victims have right to know when offender is leaving jail, as new code comes in ‘Battle’ in the channel looms as France threatens to cut off Jersey’s electricity over fishing rights Booster jab rollout ready from the autumn – but which vaccine to give? Meghan wins copyright claim against Mail On Sunday over ‘private’ letter to father UK to send two Royal Navy boats to Jersey over threat of French blockade of island port How the legacy of the black death is helping this ‘plague village’ prepare to reopen from lockdown ‘Robbed’ of more than a year’s worth of partying: 19-year-old clubbers say they ‘finally feel their age’ What we know so far about killing of Conservative MP Sir David Amess Record £184m EuroMillions jackpot won at last – by French ticket-holder In pictures: Moving tributes left to ‘much-loved colleague and friend’ Sir David Amess Gaddafi aide found jointly liable for fatal shooting of PC Yvonne Fletcher