Covid deaths rise by 96 in biggest daily jump since March and 60% surge in a week

THE UK has had its highest coronavirus death toll since March 24.

Over the past 24 hours, 96 people died in Britain from Covid-19, bringing the total to 128,823.

There has been a 60% surge in the number of deaths since last week.

Daily cases increased again today with 46,558 testing positive for the virus.

Yesterday, 39,950 infections were recorded as all legal Covid restrictions came to an end on 'Freedom Day'.

Cases were up 17 per cent on last week’s total of 33,918 - and well above the 26,829 infections reported a fortnight ago on July 5.

It comes as...

• More than 1 million children were out of school last week as Covid cases surge
• Furious tourists hit with inflated Covid test prices as amber list holiday destinations reopen
• Brits may need vaccine passports to go to the pub and football from September
• Fifty kids a week in hospital with Covid as experts warn restrictions jabs is 'gamble'

Dr Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at Public Health England, said: “The past 18 months have been tough on us all. Now restrictions have lifted many of us want to get back to doing what we enjoy most.

“However, we must do so with caution and remain sensible. We are in a wave of infections that has seen an increase of over 40% in the past week, there is still a risk of severe illness for many people.

"We can all reduce the risk by getting both doses of the vaccine, testing ourselves twice a week at home and spending more time outside or in well ventilated rooms.

"Let’s all remain vigilant.”

Revellers hit the dance floor on Freedom Day after Boris Johnson warned that a Covid vaccine passport will be needed to do the same in September.

Party-goers will have to be double jabbed to enter nightclubs from the end of September, the PM declared last night.

In a major U-turn, Boris said vaccine passports will be needed to hit the dance floor in a bid to boost jab take up among 18 to 30 year olds.

But just hours after the PM's announcement, excited revellers returned to nightclubs tonight and partied up a storm across the UK.

Last night, Brits cheered and boogied as clubs flung open their doors at midnight for the first time in 16 months to celebrate Freedom Day.

And the scenes were echoed again overnight as revellers made the most of their newfound freedoms.

More than 46 million Brits have had their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine with 36 million having received their second.