The UK has recorded another 57,725 COVID-19 cases – its highest ever daily total.
A further 445 coronavirus-related deaths were also reported.
Among the figures, NHS England reported 383 people had died after testing positive for COVID-19 – most of them occurring on New Year’s Eve.
In England, those who died were aged between 27 and 100, with all but 11 (aged between 36 and 95) having known underlying health conditions.
Saturday’s data does not include deaths from Scotland, which were not reported by Public Health Scotland.
It comes days before schools begin to reopen across the country – a move being challenged by teaching unions.
The National Education Union (NEU) says all primary schools should remain closed for at least two weeks following the Christmas break, and is urging Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to move all learning online as infections continue to rise.
However, the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is being rolled out next week, significantly increasing the NHS’s capacity to offer jabs across the country.