The UK has recorded another 1,248 coronavirus-related deaths.
It takes the total number of deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test to 86,015.
According to Johns Hopkins University, this is the fifth-highest fatality count worldwide.
It comes after the UK on Wednesday reported a further 1,564 coronavirus deaths – the highest daily figure since the pandemic began.
But Thursday marked the fourth day in a row that cases have remained below 50,000, boosting hopes that lockdown is working.
Some 48,682 new Covid-19 infections were announced by Public Health England – a slight rise on the 47,525 cases reported the day before.
It brings the country’s total cases to 3,260,258.
And 2,918,252 people have now received their first vaccine dose, which is an increase of 278,943.
Thursday’s data was released later than usual due to a “processing issue,” Public Health England said.
