Another 18,804 in the UK have tested positive for coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the Department of Health have said.

It brings the official total number of people infected since the start of the pandemic to 741,212.

Another 80 people have died within 28 days of catching the disease, bringing the Government’s death toll to 43,726.

However separate data from the UK’s statistics agencies say there have been 57,690 fatalities where Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.

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Yesterday 67 deaths were confirmed – the first time in six consecutive days where the daily count was under 100.

However there often tends to be a lag over weekends with fewer people working to record figures, with figures peaking around Tuesday on most weeks.

Today 16,365 cases were recorded in England, compared to 14,704 on Sunday. Scotland saw another 993 infections, up from 316 the day before.

Wales confirmed another 626 cases, down from 950 the previous day, while Northern Ireland confirmed another 820, down from 1,012.

It comes after Welsh authorities confirmed the country will go back into a full ‘firebreak’ lockdown from Friday this week, when schools break up for half term.

Non-essential shops as well as pubs and restaurants will be closed just as they were in March, in a bid to get the second wave back under control.

The Welsh Government is making £300million available to support businesses affected.

Every small business covered by rates relief will get a £1,000 payment. Small and medium-sized retail, leisure and hospitality businesses that have to close will get a one-off payment of up to £5,000.

The treasury’s job support scheme, which comes replaces the furlough scheme on November 1, will mean people working in shops, pubs and bars that are forced to close are now only entitled to 67% of their wages, as opposed to 80% previously.

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