UK records 36,060 new Covid cases and 127 deaths

A further 36,060 Covid infections and 127 deaths were reported in the UK on Friday.

The latest Covid figures have been released shortly after 47 countries were removed from the red list in a shake-up to the travel list.

Britain has recently been reported to have one of the worst infection rates in the world, new data showed.

The UK’s total death toll comes to 137,541.

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have been 161,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

The vaccine rollout remains a success with a total of 94,208,919 vaccines given out.

Of the vaccines, 49,101,734 were first doses and 45,107,185 were second doses.

It comes after a holiday boost for Brits was offered up when the red list was cut down to seven countries.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps branded the move to slash the red list to seven countries was a “major step forward”.

The new changes will be put in place at 4am on Monday.

South Africa, Brazil and Mexico were among the countries to be moved off the list.

Only seven countries remain on the red list: Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.

Mr Shapps said: “With half-term and winter sun around the corner, we’re making it easier for families and loved ones to reunite by significantly cutting the number of destinations on the red list, thanks in part to the increased vaccination efforts around the globe.

“Restoring people’s confidence in travel is key to rebuilding our economy and levelling up this country.

“With less restrictions and more people travelling, we can all continue to move safely forward together along our pathway to recovery.”