Covid cases top 52,000 as Boris Johnson rejects calls to reimpose restrictions

The government has promised an “advertising blitz” to urge people who are eligible for a Covid booster jab to get one straight away, as Boris Johnson insisted there was no need to introduce further restrictions.

A record number of boosters were booked yesterday, yet 4.7 million people in England have yet to come forward for even their first jab.

All this as infections are rising in all age groups in England, and in almost every part of the country.

Latest figures show another 52,000 new cases in the last 24 hours, the highest level for three months, and a further 115 deaths were reported.

NHS England says it has delivered more than four million booster doses of the vaccine.