THE UK has had the highest daily increase in coronavirus cases since the pandemic began.

Today 41,385 new cases were confirmed, bringing the total national figure to 2,329,730, since Covid-19 hit.

The increase is significantly higher than yesterday’s figure, when 30,501 new cases were recorded.

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Across Sussex, more than 5,000 people have tested positive for the virus since Wednesday, including over the Christmas period.

Figures from Public Health England show 723 new cases were recorded in Brighton and Hove since Wednesday, bringing the total figure for the city to 6,115, since the pandemic hit.

In East Sussex 2,030 new cases were recorded over the same period, which means the total figure for the county has now reached 12,861 since Covid-19 began.

West Sussex has recorded 2,320 new cases since Wednesday, bringing its total figure to 15,146.

It comes as the South East Coast Ambulance Service said it experienced “unprecedented levels of demand” on Boxing Day, and asked the public only to call 999 after considering “all other options”.

A further 357 deaths were recorded across the UK today, which brings the national death total to 71,109.