Covid-19: UK records highest daily rise in cases since late January

London: Amid concerns over the spread of the Delta variant, Britain has reported another 22,868 coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour period, the highest since January 30 this year, according to official figures released on Monday.

The total number of coronavirus cases in the country now stands at 4,755,078, according to the latest official figures.

The country also recorded another three Covid-related deaths, bringing the total number of Covid deaths in Britain to 128,103. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Meanwhile, more than 44.4 million people in Britain have received the first jab of Covid-19 vaccine and more than 32.5 million people have received two doses, the latest figures also showed.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested Monday that there will be no early easing of the lockdown restrictions before the planned date of July 19.

"Although there are some encouraging signs and the number of deaths and hospitalisations remains low -- though both are going up a bit -- we are seeing an increase in cases," Johnson was quoted as saying by the BBC, on Monday.

"So we think it's sensible to stick to our plan to have a cautious but irreversible approach, use the next three weeks or so really to complete as much as we can of the vaccine rollout",he added.

Johnson has announced a four-week delay to the final step of England's roadmap out of Covid-19 restrictions until July 19, amid a surge in cases of the Delta variant first identified in India.

"And then with every day that goes by, it's clearer to me and all our scientific advisers that we're very likely to be in a position on July 19 to say that we can go back to life as it was before Covid as far as possible," he noted.

Further, the government's decision on lifting measures will be based on the progress of the UK's vaccine rollout.

According to latest figures, across the UK, 44 million people -- or 84.1 per cent of adults -- have had their first jab and more than 32 million people -- 61.6 per cent of the adult population -- have had their second dose of vaccine.