The UK has reported 11,007 new COVID cases and a further 19 deaths in the latest 24-hour period.

The figures compare with 9,055 cases and nine deaths reported yesterday, and 7,393 and seven fatalities this time last week.

Today’s number of new infections is the highest reported since 19 February when 12,027 cases were recorded.

It comes as another 195,565 people received their first dose of a COVID vaccine on Wednesday, taking the total to 42,216,654, meaning that more than 80% of adults have now been jabbed.

Also, 234,834 had their second shot, meaning 30,675,207 (58.2%) have now been fully vaccinated in the UK.

Those percentages should continue to rise in the coming weeks as the vaccine programme moves down the age groups, with Health Secretary Matt Hancock announcing that all over-18s will be able to book a jab from Friday.

The NHS is racing to vaccinate the entire adult population in time for the government’s delayed date for easing all remaining restrictions in England on 19 July.

It comes as data from the REACT-1 study showed infections are “rising exponentially” across England, with the number of cases doubling every 11 days.

The study by scientists at Imperial College London suggests the prevalence of COVID-19 is highest among those aged five to 12, as well as young adults aged 18 to 24.

Meanwhile. a leading COVID-19 researcher has called on the government to update the list of “classic” symptoms of the virus.

According to Professor Tim Spector, co-founder of the ZOE COVID symptom study, headache, runny nose, sore throat and sneezing are now the most common signs of coronavirus.

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