he UK has recorded 52,618 coronavirus cases and1,162 deaths overnight. It is the first time the daily Covid-19 death toll has passed 1,100 since April. It is the highest single-day total since April 21, when 1,224 deaths were recorded. But the Government’s death figures continue to be affected by a lag in the publication of recent data. They contain some deaths that occurred over the Christmas and New Year period that have only just been reported. The total number of infections recorded across the country since the start of the pandemic now stands at 2,889,419, while the total number of deaths within 28 days of a postivie test is 78,508, according to the Department of Health dashboard.