Advertisement

COVID-19: UK records another 231 coronavirus deaths and 17,272 more cases

Another 231 people have died from coronavirus in the UK - compared to 397 on Saturday.

A further 17,272 cases were reported on Sunday compared to 15,539 the day before.

The latest figures mean the total number of people to have died in the UK within 28 days of a positive test has risen to 61,245.

There have been more than 1.7 million cases of coronavirus in the UK since the start of the pandemic, official data shows.

The latest figures have been published after the number of UK deaths passed 60,000 on Thursday.

A Christmas market in the centre of Nottingham has been shut down after criticism over a lack of social distancing.

Pictures shared online showed large crowds flooding Old Market Square on Saturday, with hundreds of people seemingly breaking the rules by being too close to each other.

Meanwhile, a senior doctor has said there needs to be "crystal clear" information from the government about how prioritisation for the COVID-19 vaccine will work.

Vaccinations will be administered at dozens of hospital hubs from Tuesday - reportedly dubbed "V-Day" by Health Secretary Matt Hancock - with people aged 80 and over, care home workers and NHS workers who are at higher risk the first to receive the jab.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said there has so far been "mixed messaging" about when higher risk people can expect to be vaccinated.

BMA chair of council Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: "It's great news that the most significant vaccination delivery programme of recent times will soon be under way and become a reality, and doctors across all healthcare settings stand ready to play their part.

"As we work together to defeat this terrible virus, it's right that people at highest risk are first in line to receive the vaccine.

"It is now essential that effective and comprehensive public information is delivered to all our communities to ensure that those who need the vaccine most urgently come forward to receive it over the weeks and months ahead.

"We also need the government to be crystal clear about how this prioritisation will work; we have already seen mixed messaging about when care homes, high-risk patients in the community and NHS staff can expect to be vaccinated, and many will be disappointed that they will have to wait for several weeks longer than originally indicated by the government.

"In the first phase of the pandemic, significant numbers of healthcare workers became seriously ill and many lost their lives to the virus - and we need to prevent any more unnecessary deaths or enforced absences from work."

The Queen is reportedly set to receive the COVID-19 vaccine within weeks and will make it public afterwards.