The UK has reported 14,876 new COVID-19 cases and another 11 coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period, according to government data.

The figures compare with 18,270 infections and 23 fatalities announced yesterday, while there were 9,284 cases and six fatalities recorded this time last week.

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It comes as another 234,441 people had their first dose of a COVID vaccine yesterday, while a further 199,505 received their second jab.

A total of 44,314,799 people in the UK have now had at least one shot, while 32,460,191 are fully vaccinated.

This weekend, hundreds of walk-in vaccination sites, including at stadiums and shopping centres, opened in England under the “Grab a Jab” campaign in an attempt to boost vaccine numbers amid rising coronavirus infections.

The NHS has said half of all adults aged under 30 in England will have received a first dose of a vaccine by the end of today.

More than 4.2 million people aged between 18 and 29 have received a jab just three weeks after the vaccination programme was opened up to those in their 20s.

A new online search tool allows people in England to input their postcode to find their nearest walk-in vaccination site.

Meanwhile, an expert has said the government should not “rush” into easing COVID restrictions in England in July, but data is looking “encouraging”.

Earlier this month, concerns over the spread of the Delta variant led to Prime Minister Boris Johnson pushing back the 21 June target date to remove all legal limits on social contact to 19 July.

Professor Sir Peter Horby, chairman of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), said he would not bring the restrictions easing date forward, adding it had been “very sensible” to delay it by four weeks.

Also, newly-appointed health secretary Sajid Javid has said his immediate priority is ending the coronavirus pandemic, as doctors warned he faces a “baptism of fire”.

Paying tribute to his predecessor Matt Hancock, who quit after being caught breaking social-distancing rules by kissing an aide, the cabinet minister said he knows the role carries “huge responsibility” and vowed to do everything he can to deliver for the people.

His return to cabinet followed the resignation of Mr Hancock on Saturday after the leaking of video footage showing the then-health secretary in a clinch with married Gina Coladangelo last month, in breach of COVID-19 restrictions.

Also, Northern Ireland’s vaccination drive has passed the landmark of two million jabs. The figure includes all first and second doses administered in the region.

Around 80% of the adult population have now received their first jab and almost 60% are fully vaccinated with both doses.

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