Britain on Sunday registered 38,351 new Covid-19 infections and 157 coronavirus related deaths, bringing the total loss of lives to 142,835, according to the latest official tally.

The infections have raised by 0.4 per cent over the last seven days, and the number of deaths has decreased by 7.9pc.

There are currently 8,652 patients hospitalised with Covid-19.

The latest data came as a British expert said the country was unlikely to get a “catastrophic winter wave” this Christmas.