THE RATE of Covid-19 infection in the city remains below the national average, despite nearly 1,000 new cases in 24 hours.

Cases in Brighton and Hove increased by 956 on Friday, according to official figures.

The rate of infection in the city now stands at 20,068 cases per 100,000 people - lower than the England average of 21,235.

A total of 58,547 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Brighton and Hove as of Friday, January 7 – up from 57,591 on Thursday.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 178,163 in 24 hours to 14,193,228.

There were no new Covid-19 deaths recorded in Brighton and Hove in the time period.

However, there has been two deaths in the past week, which is the same as the previous week.

A total of 429 people have died in Brighton and Hove since the pandemic began, while 19,269 deaths have been recorded across the South East.

The figures also show that more than two-thirds of people in Brighton and Hove have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.

A total of 201,028 people had received both jabs by January 6 – 69 per cent of those aged 12 and over.

Across England, 83 per cent of people aged 12 and above had received a second dose of the jab.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson recognised the “terrible toll” of coronavirus on the UK after figures showed more than 150,000 people have now died.

The UK is the seventh country to pass the milestone, following the US, Brazil, India, Russia, Mexico and Peru.

In a tweeted statement, Mr Johnson said: “Coronavirus has taken a terrible toll on our country and today the number of deaths recorded has reached 150,000.

“Each and every one of those is a profound loss to the families, friends and communities affected and my thoughts and condolences are with them.

“Our way out of this pandemic is for everyone to get their booster or their first or second dose if they haven’t yet.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the death toll represented a “dark milestone for our country”.