COVID-19: UK records another 37,960 coronavirus cases and 40 related deaths

The UK has recorded another 37,960 coronavirus cases and a further 40 related deaths in the latest 24-hour period.

The figures compare with the 32,417 cases and 58 deaths within 28 days of a positive test reported on Sunday.

This time last week, the UK recorded 36,100 daily cases and 49 coronavirus-related deaths, with 7,774 COVID patients in hospital at the time. The latest available data showed there were 6,865 people with the virus in hospital on Friday.

On this day last year, there were 2,188 people in hospital with coronavirus.

Meanwhile, another 14,120 people have received a first dose of a vaccine, taking the total number of people to have had one jab to 48,736,534.

And a further 24,851 people had their second doses, bringing the number of fully vaccinated people in the UK to 44,764,324.

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have now been 160,000 deaths registered in the UK where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

The latest figures come as families who have lost loved ones to coronavirus are set to meet Boris Johnson in Downing Street, where they will press him to "immediately" begin a public inquiry into his government's handling of the pandemic.

Members of the COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice campaign group will hold talks with the prime minister in Number 10 on Tuesday, more than a year after Mr Johnson promised to do so.

They are expected to tell him the stories of how their loved ones caught COVID and lost their lives, and reiterate their demand that the prime minister brings forward the start date of the promised public inquiry.