The UK has recorded another 52,009 new COVID cases and 115 virus-related deaths, the latest daily figures show.

The number of new infections marks the first time that figure has been above 50,000 since 17 July.

A total of 327,537 cases have been recorded in the past week – an increase of 17.9%.

The figures show there were another 49,080 first doses of a COVID vaccine administered in the latest 24-hour period – meaning a total of 49,554,407 people have had at least one jab.

COVID news live as government changes rules for booking booster jabs

A total of 45,460,122 people are fully vaccinated, an increase of 26,365 on the previous day.

The UK total for deaths within 28 days of a positive COVID test now stands at 139,146.

COVID-19: Case rates among schoolchildren in England hit new record high, latest figures show

COVID-19: Boris Johnson admits cases are ‘high’ but insists ‘we’re sticking with our plan’

Tony Blair: Getting vaccine is ‘civic duty’ and govt should bump boosters to 500,000 a day

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have now been 162,620 deaths registered in the UK where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

The latest figures come after the UK recorded 49,139 new COVID-19 cases and 179 deaths within 28 days of a positive test on Wednesday.

And on Tuesday, the UK recorded 223 COVID-related deaths – the highest daily number since early March.

Boris Johnson has admitted the level of COVID cases is “high” and he is “watching the numbers very carefully every day”.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

However, he has insisted he is “sticking with our plan”.

The government has so far resisted calls to move to Plan B of its autumn and winter COVID response for easing pressures on the NHS.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has even predicted there could be as many as 100,000 COVID cases a day heading into winter.

Related posts:

Parents pay tribute to ‘little angel’ killed in early morning Lancashire blast Ex-girlfriend of Babes in the Wood killer found guilty of perjury Family of missing teenager ‘devastated’ after man arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving Girl, 15, dies after incident at go-karting centre Prince Andrew served with legal papers for sexual assault lawsuit, according to US court document UK cancels deal with French firm for tens of millions of COVID jabs UK set to have one million Omicron infections by end of December – but booster jabs effective, says UKHSA Prince Andrew accused of ‘victim blaming’ over demand for accuser’s mental health records Ruth Davidson says mental health history meant she almost did not run as Scottish Tory leader Body of British woman swept away by Tonga tsunami found Govt to undertake review of BBC’s funding model as licence fee frozen for two years Missing teen Marnie Clayton found ‘safe and well’ in Hampshire as Reading man arrested