The UK has recorded more than 50,000 new coronavirus cases for the sixth day in a row – as the total number of COVID-19 deaths passed 75,000.

Another 54,990 coronavirus infections and 454 deaths were recorded on Sunday, government figures show.

It takes the total number of people who have died within 28 days of a positive COVID test in the UK to 75,024.

Among the latest figures, a further 386 people have died with the virus in England, according to the NHS.

The patients were aged between 30 and 107 and all except 18 of those had known underlying health conditions.

Public Health Wales said there had been 56 further deaths and Northern Ireland reported another six. Scotland did not report any further coronavirus-related deaths on Sunday.

It comes a day before schools start reopening their doors, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisting classrooms are safe.

Pressure is mounting on Mr Johnson to keep schools closed amid the surge in COVID-19 cases, with teaching unions saying classrooms should keep their doors closed for at least another two weeks.

Speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Marr, Mr Johnson also refused to rule out imposing tighter restrictions across the country in the weeks to come.

Monday also marks the start of the next stage of the vaccine rollout, with the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab becoming available to the NHS.

Around 530,000 doses of the British-developed vaccine will be available to be rolled out at first, with more than 700 sites around England earmarked to distribute it.

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