The number of people who have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus has risen to 97,939 – an increase of 610 over 24 hours.

The latest government figures also reveal that 30,004 more people have now tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number since the start of the pandemic in the UK to 3,647,463.

In more positive developments, it was also revealed nearly 10% of the UK population has received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

Government data up to January 23 shows 6,822,981 jabs have been given in the UK so far, 6,353,321 of which were first doses – a rise of 491,970 on the previous day’s figures.

Some 469,660 were second doses, an increase of 1,043 on figures released the previous day.

Based on the latest figures, an average of 393,031 first doses of vaccine would be needed each day in order to meet the government’s target of 15 million first doses by February 15.

Meanwhile, coronavirus infections have risen in ten areas of England, just days after it was reported they were going down across the entire country.

According to the latest NHS data, a number of places mostly in Yorkshire and the North East had a higher number of confirmed Covid cases on 21 January than they did seven days previously.

Barnsley has seen the sharpest rise with a 24% increase in cases, followed by Bradford (15%) and Wakefield (12%)