The United Kingdom recorded 157 deaths from COVID-19 and a further 38,351 cases on Saturday, official data showed.

On a seven-day measure, cases edged up 0.4 percent on the week before while deaths of people who had tested positive for the disease within 28 days were down 7.9 percent.

The UK is experiencing a decline in COVID rates but they are still higher than many countries in Europe.

Professor Neil Ferguson has said offering booster jabs to younger age groups could help cut COVID infection rates.

He said he saw "no reason" why younger age groups should not be offered boosters after priority groups.

He also said the UK was unlikely to get a "catastrophic winter wave" this Christmas.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that about one in 60 people in private households in England had Covid-19 in the week to November 6, down from one in 50 the previous week.

(With input from agencies)