The UK has reported 9,055 new COVID cases, the highest daily total since February.

There were also a further nine coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period, according to the latest government data.

The figures compare with 7,673 cases and 10 deaths announced on Tuesday, while 7,540 infections and six fatalities were recorded this time last week.

Today’s number of cases is the highest since 25 February, when 9,985 new infections were reported.

It comes as another 190,033 people had their first dose of a COVID vaccine on Tuesday, taking the total to 42,021,089.

Also 230,666 had their second jab, meaning 30,440,373 have now been fully vaccinated in the UK.

Yesterday marked a key milestone when the government announced more than 30 million adults had received both shots as the country grapples with the spread of the Delta variant, first detected in India.

Around one million people aged 21 and 22 are now eligible to book their coronavirus vaccination.

Some 972,000 text messages are being sent out, inviting them to schedule appointments for both doses via the national booking system.

And those aged 18 to 20 are expected to be invited to book their appointments by the end of this week.

There had been fears that younger people, who face a far lower risk of severe illness from COVID-19, might be reluctant to get inoculated.

But Sir Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, said that the response had seen these fears “blown out of the water”.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock also confirmed coronavirus vaccinations will be made compulsory for care home staff, and the government is consulting on implementing the same policy for NHS workers.

Meanwhile, Public Health England’s strategic COVID-19 response director has revealed there are 25 coronavirus variants “under monitoring”.

Dr Susan Hopkins told the parliamentary science and technology committee: “We’re living in a world of variants now, so everything we see is a variation of the original.”

She said eight variants are “under investigation”, along with the 25 that are being monitored.

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