UK records 12,872 new coronavirus cases in highest-ever rise, amid hopes for vaccine by Easter -...

The UK set a new record for daily new cases of coronavirus as Boris Johnson faced widespread criticism for blaming the surging figures on public "complacency".

A further 12,872 cases and 49 deaths were reported on Saturday night and official figures also revealed a rise in the number of patients in hospital and on ventilators.

However the government claimed a backlog of test results dating back more than a week would lead to higher figures “over the coming days”.