The UK has reported more than 100,000 daily positive coronavirus tests for the first time since mass testing began in 2020. A further 106,122 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the UK as of 9am on Wednesday, the Government has confirmed.

       The Government said a further 140 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19.

       Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have now been 173,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

       It comes as Omicron spreads rapidly throughout the UK ahead of Christmas and New Year, with new restrictions being brought in across Wales and Scotland in recent days.

       Infections have remained at record levels in recent days, with eight of the 10 highest daily totals for reported infections coming since December 15.

       The top ten worst-hit areas in the UK are in London, with Hackney and City of London reporting the highest case rate.

       Over the last seven days London has recorded 144,000 positive tests.

       Hackney is reporting 3066 cases per 100,000 people, with 8,949 positive cases recorded in the last seven days.

       Lambeth is not far behind with 8873 cases and a case rate of 2,757.2.

       Wandsworth rounds up the top three worst-hit areas 8768 cases of COVID-19 recorded over seven days, and a case rate of 2659.1 per 100,000 people.

       The top ten areas worst infected by COVID-19 are:

       DON'T MISS

       China lockdown: Major city shut down as 13 million told to stay home [REPORT]

       Omicron: MHRA approves Covid jab for young children in the UK [INSIGHT]

       Inside hospital ward where unjabbed patients as young as 30 are dying [REPORT]

       See the latest Covid vaccine stats below and visit InYourArea for all the Covid vaccine latest

       The news comes as scientists are expected to confirm the Omicron variant results in milder illness for the majority of people than the Delta variant, which plunged the UK into a strict lockdown in January this year.

       But scientists still believe Omicron is a considerable threat to the NHS.

       A UKHSA spokesperson said: "We are reviewing all analyses continuously to help inform the pandemic response, which includes assessing the severity of Omicron.

       "We will publish these latest findings in the variant technical briefing on December 23."

       Outside of London, the worst-hit region according to cases per 100,000 people is the East of England, with 955.5.

       In England, the North East is currently the worst affected region, with a case rate of 450.2 per 100,000 inhabitants.

       In more hopeful news, more than 30.8 million booster and third doses have now been delivered in the UK - with a whopping 6.1 million administered in the past week.

       The JCVI has also announced vulnerable children aged between five and 11 will be offered a pediatric version of the vaccine.