The UK has recorded more than 60,000 coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time.

Government figures show another 60,916 people were reported as being infected in the latest 24 hour period. A further 830 deaths have also been announced, bringing the overall death toll to 76,305.

It’s another record daily number of cases as the UK continues to battle the pandemic, beating the previous high which was set just yesterday at 58,784. The country has now seen more than 50,000 cases a day for eight consecutive days.

Earlier, NHS England announced a further 582 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 52,395.

Patients were aged between 29 and 103. All except 25, aged between 56 and 101, had known underlying health conditions.

The deaths were between November 5 and January 4, with the majority being on or after January 1.

In Scotland there were 2,529 new cases reported today, giving a total of 139,027 and 11 new deaths, giving a total of 4,633.

Northern Ireland saw 1,378 new cases, giving a total of 81,251, and 18 new deaths bringing the death toll to 1,384.

Wales registered 2,069 new cases, giving a total of 159,278, and 17 new deaths reported, giving a total of 3,662.

It comes as the Chancellor Rishi Sunak set out a £4.6 billion plan to help businesses that are being forced to close through the third lockdown.

It includes one-off top up grants of up to £9,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure venues.

Meanwhile a hospital in Lincoln has declared a critical incident – the highest alert level possible – amid a surge in new patients with the virus.

Yesterday it was confirmed that Covid admissions had reached a record high in the NHS – but there are fears that the situation is only likely to worsen.

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