UK’s wider Covid-19 death toll passes 100,000

Although the number of deaths reported daily continues to rise, the number of new cases reported daily over the last week has been below a high of 68,053 also recorded on January 8, suggesting lockdown measures were beginning to take effect.

It comes as 47,525 more people tested positive for the virus, even as London registered the first fall in hospitalisations since early December.

Since these cut-off dates, a further 7,742 deaths have taken place in the United Kingdom, according to the latest data on the Government's coronavirus dashboard.

Then on February 2 a second known death involving Covid occurred involving a man aged between 55 and 59, followed by a third death, a woman aged between 30 and 34, on February 22.

Similar restrictions are also in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where devolved administrations are in charge of health policies.

The figures come as the prime minister warned there was a "very substantial" risk of intensive care capacity in hospitals being "overtopped".

"Organizing parties or other large gatherings is risky, selfish and totally irresponsible in light of the current threat we face", he said.

"They are going exceptionally fast", he said, in reference to the vaccination programme.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock will set out further details "in due course", Mr Johnson added.

Another record number of deaths reported today. For the time being, though, it is important to note that the daily toll is, in comparable terms, still below the levels of the peaks in spring 2020.

While the spring surge was sudden and quick, this wave has been longer lasting and more gradual, but no less lethal - indeed more so by some yardsticks. But it might mean that the overall picture for mortality starts to improve towards the end of the month.