The UK has recorded 34,526 new COVID cases and 167 more coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period, according to government data.

The figures compare with 37,960 infections and 40 fatalities reported on Monday, while 31,564 cases and 203 deaths were announced this time last week.

There are currently 7,000 COVID patients in hospital.

Meanwhile, another 24,919 people received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine on Monday, taking the total number who have had one jab to 48,765,726 (89.7% of over-16s).

A further 33,177 had their second dose on Monday, meaning 44,799,748 are now fully vaccinated in the UK (82.4%).

Since the start of the pandemic, a total of 136,375 people have died in the UK within 28 days of a positive COVID test, government data shows.

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed a total of 851 deaths mentioning COVID-19 on the death certificate were registered in England and Wales in the week ending 17 September, down slightly by 1% on the previous week.

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Around one in 13 (7.7%) of deaths registered in England and Wales up to that week mentioned coronavirus on the death certificate.

A total of 161,446 deaths mentioning COVID on the death certificate have occurred in the UK, the ONS said.

The highest number on a single day happened on 19 January.

During the first wave of the virus, the daily death toll peaked at 1,461 on 8 April, 2020.

It comes as Boris Johnson promised to appoint someone to chair the public inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic by Christmas.

The prime minister also said he supported the National COVID Memorial Wall and suggested it could become a permanent national memorial to the pandemic.

Meanwhile, ONS research found more than one in 10 secondary school students and over a third of school staff who have had COVID have suffered ongoing symptoms.

Both staff and pupils commonly reported weakness and tiredness, while staff were more likely to experience shortness of breath.

The ONS estimates 35.7% of staff and 12.3% of students who previously tested positive for COVID reported ongoing symptoms more than a month after contracting the virus.

Around 15.5% of staff and 9.4% of pupils said their ability to carry out daily tasks had been significantly reduced.

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