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The UK has recorded a further 57,725 COVID-19 cases, its highest daily total.
445 more coronavirusRelated deaths were also reported.
The total number of people who have now died from COVID-19 in the UK now stands at 74,570.
Among the figures, NHS England reported that 383 people had died after testing positive for COVID-19 – most of them happen on New Years Eve.
In England, those who died were between 27 and 100 years old, and all but 11 (between 36 and 95 years old) had known underlying health conditions.
Saturday’s data across the UK does not include deaths from Scotland, which have not been reported by Public Health Scotland.
Yvonne Doyle, England’s Chief Medical Officer for Public Health, said: “These figures are a stark reminder that now that we are leaving 2020 behind, we are not yet in the woods – transmission is very high and many lives are still being lost tragically.” .
“It is more important now than ever that we do not waste the enormous sacrifices that we all made last year; we must continue to keep our distance from others, washing our hands and wearing a mask to help stop the spread of the virus.”
Record number of daily cases comes days before schools begin to reopen across the country – a move being challenged by teachers unions.
The National Education Union (NEU) says all elementary schools must be closed for at least two weeks after the Christmas break, and is urging the Secretary of Education Gavin williamson to move all learning online as infections continue to rise.
However, the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine will be launched next week, significantly increasing the NHS’s ability to offer injections nationwide.
Public Health England warned against mixing vaccines from different providers, after the government warned doctors that they could give patients a different booster if their original vaccine is not available or unknown.
