The UK has recorded 89,176 new COVID cases in the latest 24-hour period, according to official data.

A further 277 people have died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test, according to the government’s dashboard.

The figures compare with 96,871 cases and 338 COVID-related deaths reported yesterday.

Last Friday, 95,787 cases and 288 fatalities were recorded.

Read latest updates on COVID in the UK and around the world

Meanwhile, another 52,956 people had their booster jab yesterday, taking the UK total to 37,157,898.

Also, 15,706 more people received their first dose, meaning an overall figure of 52,297,579.

COVID-19: Moderna developing single booster jab to protect against Omicron and Delta variants

COVID-19: Which occupations have England’s lowest coronavirus vaccination rates?

COVID-19: Work from home tax break set to end after costs ‘spiral to £500m’ during pandemic

And a further 29,948 have had their second, with 48,314,633 now double jabbed.

It comes as England’s R reproduction number has fallen to between 0.7 and 0.9.

The latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) mean that every 10 people infected with coronavirus will on average pass the disease to between seven and nine other people.

Last week, the range was 0.8 to 1.1.

The UKHSA said the number of cases each day is likely shrinking.

The daily growth of infections was estimated at between -6% to -2%, compared with -6% to +1% the previous week.

Meanwhile, the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows infection rates and hospitalisations decreased across England in the week ending 23 January.

The infection rate fell to 4.82%, while hospitalisations of COVID patients decreased to 16.01 per 100,000 people.

However, the number of deaths involving COVID rose to 1,308 in the week ending 14 January.

When infections were at their highest level in the second wave (2.08%, week ending 9 January 2021), the hospital admission rate was twice as high (36.68 per 100,000 people, week ending 10 January 2021).

And the number of deaths involving COVID was over four times higher (5,597, week ending 8 January 2021), according to the ONS.

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

Also, new analysis by the ONS has found an average of more than 350,000 daily new COVID cases in the UK likely occurred in early January.

That’s more than twice the official number reported on the government’s dashboard over the same period.

The figure is down from nearly 500,000 new cases a day estimated for the end of December – though this was nearly three times the dashboard total.

Related posts:

‘Things are utterly dire’: Family of missing Sarah Everard ‘distraught’, says uncle Man held over Sarah Everard disappearance arrested on suspicion of murder, as police search woods Lottery winner ‘who took eyes off road to get teddy for son’ cleared of killing woman by dangerous driving Defence secretary self-isolating after armed forces chief tests positive for coronavirus No early release from COVID restrictions, PM suggests The Queen visits Irn Bru factory as she tours Scotland for first time since Duke of Edinburgh died COVID data shows jabs cut risk of hospitalisation and death – but you need to read it with clear head Team GB claim six medals on day four with historic swimming and gymnastics success Wales to make teaching of black, Asian and ethnic minorities’ histories mandatory in schools Two men arrested over killing of journalist Lyra McKee in Northern Ireland Use 111 online service before going to A&E for non-life-threatening care, NHS boss says Motorist aimed gun at police parliamentary protection officer after London car chase