Official figures show the United Kingdom has recorded 8,523 new COVID-1 cases and a further 345 deaths in the latest 24-hour period. 

This even as the next phase of COVID vaccinations is poised to continue to prioritise people by age and not their occupation to avoid slowing down the rollout.

People aged 40-49 will be the next in line to get a vaccine after all vulnerable groups and the over-50s are covered, the government said.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said this would provide "the greatest benefit in the shortest time".

It added that prioritising occupational groups such as teachers and police could make the rollout more complex and could potentially slow the programme overall, leaving some vulnerable people at higher risk for longer.

In a statement, a government spokesperson confirmed all four nations of the UK would follow the recommendations "subject to the final advice given by the independent expert committee".

The spokesperson added that age had been assessed to be "the strongest factor linked to mortality, morbidity and hospitalisations, and because the speed of delivery is crucial as we provide more people with protection from COVID-19".

(With input from agencies)