The United Kingdom has recorded 121 more coronavirus-related deaths and 42,076 new cases in the latest 24-hour period, government data shows.

The figures compare with 178 deaths and 38,154 infections reported on Thursday, while last Friday 100 fatalities and 38,046 cases were announced.

Another 40,002 people had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, taking the total to 48,171,998 (88.6 percent of people in the Kingdom aged 16 and over).

Also, 119,375 received their second jab on Thursday, meaning 43,142,747 are now fully inoculated (79.4 peecent of people over-16s).

(With input from agencies)