The UK has recorded 26,476 new coronavirus cases and 48 deaths in the latest 24-hour period, government figures show.

The figures compare with 33,196 COVID-19 cases and 61 deaths reported on Sunday, and 31,914 new cases and 40 deaths this time last week.

Another 78,871 people received a second coronavirus vaccine dose yesterday, taking the total number of those over 16 who are now fully inoculated to 42,718,652.

And 23,612 were given their first dose – taking the total to 48,024,928.

A total of 132,485 people have died within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test, the figures show. Where COVID has been mentioned on the death certificate, that figure stands at 155,465.

It was announced the UK government will roll out COVID-19 booster jabs alongside flu jabs for the most vulnerable group from 6 September.

And during a news briefing on Monday, the World Health Organisations (WHO) Europe Director, Hans Kluge, said the booster jab is an important way of protecting the most clinically vulnerable rather than making vaccine inequity worse.

His comments came after senior WHO officials criticised countries for rolling out boosters when many across the world had no jabs at all.

But Mr Kluge said: “A third dose of vaccine is not a luxury booster [that is] taken away from someone who is still waiting for a first jab. It’s basically a way to keep the most vulnerable safe.”

In travel, travellers from the UK will no longer have to quarantine when they arrive in Italy if they are fully vaccinated and can show a negative COVID test.

Italy’s health ministry said the five-day mandatory quarantine will be scrapped from 31 August.

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The negative PCR or antigen coronavirus test must have been taken 48 hours before arriving in Italy – and it must have been at least 14 days since the second vaccine dose was administered.

Existing restrictions for visitors from other countries will remain in place.

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