Covid cases in the UK are up by 33,904 with a further 111 deaths, latest figures show

The Government has said a further 111 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Wednesday, bringing the UK total to 131,260.

There had been a further 33,904 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases in the UK, the Government said.

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have now been 156,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

The news comes as figures released on Tuesday show weekly Covid deaths in England and Wales are nearly five times higher than they were a month ago.

In the week to August 6, 527 death certificates referenced the virus - accounting for more than one in 20 deaths from all causes.

The number of lives being lost to Covid-19 is significantly lower than it was during the winter peak (PA)

This is up from 109 in the week to July 4, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows.

A week earlier there were 404 fatalities linked to the virus - meaning there was a rise of nearly 30 per cent in just seven days.

However the number of lives being lost to Covid-19 is significantly lower than it was during the winter peak.

In the final week of January, 8,433 Covid deaths were recorded, and the tragic weekly figure did not drop below 1,000 until late March.

The latest data show that the number of people dying from all causes is 12.7 per cent higher than the five year average.

Across the UK there were 609 fatalities linked to coronavirus in this period, the figures state.

The data covers the period three weeks following Freedom Day, when all remaining restrictions were lifted in England - giving the green light for large events to resume and social distancing requirements ended.

Self-isolation rules for fully vaccinated people in England changed on Monday - ending the 'pingdemic' summer.

Double-jabbed contacts of Covid cases no longer legally have to isolate for 10 days if they are contacted by NHS Test and Trace, according to new official rules that kicked in today.

However there are some important exceptions.

Contacts are still being advised to take a ’PCR Covid test, although this will no longer be a legal requirement.

Anyone whose PCR test comes back positive must still isolate by law.

And close contacts must also still isolate by law if the infected person is a member of their own household.

But an expert warned the UK could face another “large” wave this September amid concerns the rule change could bring about complacent behaviour.