More than 100,000 people in the UK have died within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test, official data indicates, a grim new milestone as the government battles to speed up vaccination delivery and keep variants of the virus at bay.
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The UK has the fifth highest toll globally and reported a further 1631 deaths and 20,089 cases on Tuesday, according to government figures.
The 100,162 deaths are more than the country's civilian toll in World War II and twice the number killed in the 1940-41 Blitz bombing campaign.
"It's hard to compute the sorrow contained in that grim statistic, the years of life lost, the family gatherings not attended and for so many relatives the missed chance, even to say goodbye," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.
"We will make sure we learn the lessons and reflect and prepare," he said.
England re-entered a lockdown on January 5, which includes the closure of pubs, restaurants, non-essential shops and schools to most pupils.
Further travel restrictions have been introduced.
In December, the UK became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and has set itself the task of offering jabs to everyone 70 and older, those who are clinically vulnerable, frontline health and social care workers and older adults in care homes by mid-February.
A total of 6,853,327 people have now received a first dose and 472,446 a second dose.
Australian Associated Press
