The number of people who have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus has risen to 88,590 – an increase of 1,295 over 24 hours.

The UK broke its record for the highest number of deaths within 28 days of positive test reported in a single day on Wednesday, with 1,564.

Globally, the pandemic reached the grim milestone of two million deaths worldwide from Covid-19 on Friday, little more than a year after the first death was reported. 

The number of new coronavirus cases over a 7-day average has continued to drop, with 42,346 people testing positive in the most recent 24-hour record window. 

A total of 3,514,385 Covid-19 vaccinations had taken place in England between December 8 and January 15, according to provisional NHS England data, including first and second doses, which is a rise of 324,711 on Friday’s figures.

Of this number, 3,090,058 were the first dose of the vaccine, a rise of 320,894 on Friday’s figures, while 424,327 were the second dose, an increase of 3,817.