THE UK’S daily Covid cases have topped 42,000 for the fourth day in a row.

       A further 43,423 infections have been reported in the last 24 hours - bringing the total since the beginning of the pandemic to 8,404,469.

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       Meanwhile latest statistics show that a further 148 have lost their lives to the killer bug, giving a total of 138,527 deaths.

       Yesterday cases rose by 44,932, while on Thursday 45,066 were reported.

       And on Wednesday cases rose by 42,776 - meaning today is the fourth day in a row cases have topped 42,000.

       It comes as thousands of people must retake their coronavirus tests because a dodgy lab exposed by The Sun was giving false negative results.

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       At least 43,000 people given the all-clear in September and October might have had Covid.

       Work has been halted at the Immensa Health Clinic in Wolverhampton over the surge in negative PCR tests following positive lateral flow results.

       Most are in the West Country. The lab got a ￡119million taxpayer-funded contract last year months after launching.

       It comes after The Sun revealed in January that workers were drinking, brawling and watching porn at the lab when they should have been handling samples.

       It follows a harrowing warning from Professor Tim Spector, lead scientist on the ZOE Covid Study App.

       He said the surge in young Brits being diagnosed with the virus during the UK's third wave could spell disaster for the NHS this winter.

       "The UK seems to be slowly waking up to the fact that Covid cases are too high, but the reality is they’ve been soaring for months and many countries have put us on their red list," he said.

       "Infections remain high in young people, and look to be spilling over into the 35 to 55 year olds.

       "If these increases creep into the over 55s it could spell disaster for the NHS this winter."

       Brits to be hit by deadly explosion of flu AND Covid this winter as immunity plummets due to lockdowns