COVID infections have risen by 18,270 today in the highest daily count since February 5.

A further 23 people have also died from the virus in the last 24 hours.

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The grim total of Covid deaths since the pandemic began has now reached 128,089.

And since last year, 4,717,811 have tested positive for the virus in Britain.

The latest figures compare to 15,810 new infections and 18 fatalities yesterday.

And last Saturday, 10,321 cases were recorded as well as another 14 deaths.

Adults across England will be able to "grab a jab" this weekend as hundreds of walk-in vaccine centres open up to the public.

Anyone over 18 can now turn up to their local vaccination clinic without a booking and get a jab.

The latest stage of the government's roll out sees football stadiums, theatres, supermarket car parks and shopping centres turned into makeshift centres.

Edgebaston Stadium in Birmingham, Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and Vertu Motors Arena, home to Newcastle Eagles basketball team, are just a few major sporting arenas opening their doors.

Buses offering Covid jabs will also operate in Bolton, Dudley, Colchester, Ipswich and elsewhere.

The NHS said walk-in hubs will be advertised locally while efforts are underway to build an online service that allows people to search for their nearest one.

They will be open for people having their first dose and to those over 40 who had their first jab at least eight weeks ago.

Those under 40 who had their shot more than 12 weeks ago can also receive one.

NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: "With more than 63million jabs already delivered by the NHS in England, we’re now in a race to the finish line.

"It’s now easier than ever to get your life-saving jab, and the more of us who are vaccinated the safer and freer we all will be."

Meanwhile, a new variant which has ripped through South America has been found in the UK.

COVID SURGE

Six cases of the Lambda variant have been discovered in Britain – all of which have been linked to overseas travel.

Public Health England yesterday morning declared it as a Covid Variant Under Investigation.

The earliest documented sample was reported in Peru and Lambda has been sequenced in 26 countries to date, PHE said, although other reports claim it has been found in 29 countries.

Lambda (C.37) is now being watched, due to several notable mutations including L452Q and F490S.

The World Health Organisation classified Lambda as a global Variant of Interest on 14 June.

WHO said it has mutations that increase transmissible or strengthen antibody resistance, although there is not enough evidence to know for certain.

PHE is carrying out laboratory testing to better understand the impact of mutations on the behaviour of the virus.

In Peru, where it was first seen, Lambda now makes up 81 per cent of the cases there.

It has spread to Chile, making up 32 per cent of cases in the last 60 days, and Argentina and Ecuador have both reported more prevalence.

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