The UK has reported another 15 coronavirus-deaths and 2,381 new cases in the latest 24-hour period, according to government data.

The figures compare with 22 fatalities and 2,445 infections announced on Thursday, while 40 deaths and 2,678 cases were reported last Friday.

Since the pandemic started, a total of 127,517 people have died in the UK within 28 days of testing positive for COVID-19 and there have been 4,416,623 laboratory-confirmed cases.

Meanwhile, another 122,039 people had their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine on Thursday, taking the total to 34,216,087.

And 488,914 people had their second jab, meaning 14,532,875 are now fully vaccinated.

It comes as separate figures showed the number of people in England estimated to have COVID-19 has dropped by 40 percent in a week.

(With input from agencies)