Figures show new infections have risen by 15,650 over the last 24 hours and a further 844 patients have been hospitalised with Covid-19

The UK’s coronavirus death toll has risen by 136 today – the fourth day in a row daily fatalities have topped 100.

It is more than double the increase in deaths two weeks ago on October 2.

The figure tallies fatalities across all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community.

Cases have risen by 15,650 over the last 24 hours and a further 844 patients have been hospitalised with the virus. Yesterday, there were nearly 19,000 new cases reported.

New cases are surging across the UK despite millions being plunged into drastic new lockdown measures this week.

There were an estimated 27,900 new cases reported in England per day in the last week, the Office for National Statistics’ weekly update said today.