UK reports highest daily increase since pandemic began with 26,688 Covid-19 cases 

The daily number of positive cases has climbed steeply in recent weeks (Andrew Milligan/PA)

The UK has reported its highest daily rise in lab-confirmed coronavirus cases since the outbreak began.

On Wednesday, the government announced a further 26,688 lab-confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the UK, taking the total number to 789,229.