Coronavirus: UK sees over 26,000 new Covid-19 cases, a new daily record

191 deaths were recorded in the same period.

Some 26,688 have tested positive for the coronavirus in the last 24 hours - the latest government figures have confirmed.

Department for Health and Social Care data put the new total case figure for the UK at 789,229 since the beginnings of the UK’s outbreak in January.

The figure marks the highest recorded daily increase for the country so far, up from an increase of more than 21,000 the previous day - however experts have urged caution on comparing current data to the nation’s first outbreak, when testing capacity remained much lower.

Along with the new case figure the government announced 191 new fatalities relating to the virus - a figure which includes only those who had died within 28 days of a positive test.

The new fatalities bring the nation’s total to 44,158 - which remains one of the highest death rates in the world with 66.26 deaths per 100,000 people -  according to Johns Hopkins University.

Meanwhile data from the Office of National Statistics show there have now been 59,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

Of the four nations England, which is also the most heavily populated of the UK’s regions, continues to show the highest numbers of cases and fatalities.

Of the latest figures 22,948 cases were recorded in England, compared to 1,739 in Scotland, 1,039 in Northern Ireland and 962 in Wales.

Separate Government figures show there were 5,828 Covid-19 patients in hospital in England on Tuesday - the latest figure available - up from 3,905 a week ago, while 559 were in ventilation beds, up from 441.

A total of 870 patients with confirmed Covid-19 were admitted to hospitals in England on Sunday, the latest figure available, compared with 628 a week earlier.

Additional reporting by agencies