Another 32,367 COVID-19 cases and 34 deaths were reported across the UK in the latest 24-hour period.

The figures, released on Saturday, compare with 35,707 COVID cases and 29 deaths the day before - the highest number of infections since 22 January when 40,261 cases were recorded.

Cases in the past week have risen by 30.7% compared with the previous week while deaths in that period have risen by 43.1%.

Another 88,675 people had their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine in the UK on Thursday, taking the total to 45,786,550 - 86.8% of the adult population.

A total of 166,883 people had their second jab, meaning 34,541,129 (65.3% of adults) are now fully vaccinated.

The number of hospital admissions was 509 on 5 July, the latest data available shows.

In the seven days up to that date, 2,872 people were admitted to hospital - an increase of 55.9% on the previous week.

There have now been 153,000 deaths registered in the UK where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, new figures from the Office for National Statistics show.

The newest statistics come nine days before most restrictions are due to be lifted in England as part of step four of the lifting of lockdown.