There have been another 37,681 Covid-19 cases in the UK according to the latest figures recorded in the 24 hours to 9 a.m. Sunday.

Another 51 people died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid from Sunday, bringing the UK total to 144,775.

Separate figures released by the Office for National Statistics show 169,000 deaths have been recorded in the UK where Covid was mentioned on the death certificate.

More than 10 million positive cases have been recorded in the UK, but due to a lack of testing at the start of the pandemic and many people showing no symptoms, the true figure is expected to be much higher.

The latest figures are presented as a third case of the new variant of Omicron Covid that has been confirmed in the UK. The prime minister had introduced a series of measures after two cases of the new variant were detected in an attempt to try to curb its spread.
The government has also announced that children in Year 7 and above will be encouraged to cover their faces in the common areas of schools and universities in England.

Face covering will become mandatory again in some settings, stricter testing rules will take effect for anyone arriving in the country from abroad, contacts of people who have tested positive for the Omicron variant must be self-isolating for 10 days, and booster shots will be extended to more people.

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England

There were 40 more deaths within 28 days of a positive test and another 32,136 people tested positive for coronavirus.

Scotland

No new deaths were reported in Scotland (considering that Registration Offices are now generally closed on weekends) and another 2,177 cases were recorded.

North Ireland

Two Covid-related deaths were recorded in Northern Ireland and a further 1,405 positive cases were recorded.

Welsh

Another nine deaths were reported in Wales and another 1,963 cases.