UK coronavirus deaths climb by another 123 as toll reaches 45,677

The number of coronavirus deaths in the UK has risen by 123 bringing the toll in all settings to 45,677.

At least 770 people tested positive for the virus meaning there have now been 297,914 lab-confirmed cases since the start of the outbreak.

Earlier today it was announced that 16 patients had died in hospital in what was the lowest daily increase on a Friday since the start of lockdown.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all recorded no additional deaths in hosptial.

Yesterday the UK's coronavirus death toll rose by 53 bringing the number of fatalities in all settings to 45,554.

Boris Johnson said he believes the UK will be "well past" coronavirus by the middle of next year, but warned of "tough times" ahead.

Coronavirus deaths have climbed again (Getty Images)

The Prime Minister's comments come a week after he spoke of his hopes that there could be a "significant return to normality" in time for Christmas - a vision that leading scientists warned would be difficult to deliver.

Mr Johnson also said he would not make a "prediction" about when social distancing measures would end, saying that it would "depend on our continued ability to drive down the virus".

But last week, in response to a question from the public, the PM said it "may conceivably be possible" to depart from social distancing measures, such as the one-metre rule, "by November at the earliest".

There were 16 hospital deaths recorded in the UK today (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

In a media interview on Friday, Mr Johnson was asked who or what has been his biggest enemy as Prime Minister, and he said: "This whole planet has faced a very nasty new foe in the form of a bug that we didn't know about before."

He added: "I think that by the middle of next year we will be well on the way, we will be well on the way past it.

"But ... I must be clear with people, I do still think that we have tough times ahead in keeping this virus under control.

"We have tough times ahead in coming through economically, but I have absolutely no doubt that we are going to, and this country is going to bounce back stronger than ever before."

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