The United Kingdom recorded 44,932 new COVID infections and further 145 deaths, official figures show.

A total of 49,335,154 people in the country have now received at least one COVID vaccine after 43,489 got their first dose on Thursday. 

The number of people in the UK who are double jabbed increased by 27,991, taking the total 45,297,231. 

This even as testing was suspended at private laboratory in Wolverhampton after 43,000 people may have received false negative PCR results; date confirmed for switch to lateral flow tests for fully vaccinated passengers.

(With input from agencies)