The UK has recorded 32,417 further COVID-19 cases and 58 deaths within 28 days of a positive test, according to the latest government figures.

There have been 239,342 cases over the past seven days – an increase of almost 31,974, equivalent to 15.4% – data published on the government’s coronavirus website showed.

A total of 965 deaths have been recorded over the past week, 38 less than last week, equating to a 3.8% reduction.

On Saturday, 122 deaths were recorded as more than 31,348 people tested positive across the UK.

Meanwhile, another 22,540 people received their first vaccine dose, taking the total number of people who have had one jab to 48,722,414.

A further 46,517 people received their second dose, taking the total of fully vaccinated people in the country to 44,739,473.

Leading experts said COVID-19 would resemble illness as mild as a common cold by spring next year.

Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert – one of the British scientists behind the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine – and Sir John Bell both believe the UK “is over the worst” of the virus.

Related posts:

Sturgeon says Scotland ‘likely’ to keep COVID restrictions for further three weeks Nearly nine in 10 areas in UK seeing rise in COVID cases Wales to ease COVID rules from Saturday – but face masks still needed indoors and on public transport Euro 2020 final could have been abandoned without police intervention, says Met Woman who stabbed husband to death took over 999 call and refused to give aid, court hears Bravery awards for police officers following eye-gouging attack in water-logged storm drain ‘Alarming’ falls in life expectancy before COVID hit, new data shows – see where is worst in England Friends of Stephen Port’s first victim claim police made assumptions because he was a sex worker Man dies and woman critically injured in west London stabbings Refusal to increase killer’s sentence after he strangled woman during sex is ‘ultimate victim-blaming’ Husband of Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe ends hunger strike as his daughter ‘needs two parents’ Arrests made after Extinction Rebellion protests block Lord Mayor’s Show in London