This graph by Statista tracks daily UK lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases

Republic of Ireland midfielder Alan Browne has tested positive for coronavirus, just hours after playing against England in Thursday night’s international friendly at Wembley.

At least 200 UK frontline health and care workers have now died after contracting coronavirus.

Through tributes from loved ones and confirmation through sources such as local NHS trusts and other authorities, the PA news agency has confirmed the names of health and social care workers who have died after contracting Covid-19 since 11 March.

This list includes those who were working in roles shortly before their deaths where they were likely to come into contact with patients.

The most recent victim was anaesthetist Dr Krishnan Subramanian, who died on Thursday. Dr Subramanian worked at the Royal Derby Hospital.

Health secretary Matt Hancock has said coronavirus vaccines could be flown into the UK to avoid potential disruption at the border when Britain leaves the single market and customs union at the end of the year.

A consultant anaesthetist has died after contracting Covid-19.

The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) said Dr Krishnan Subramanian, who worked at the Royal Derby Hospital, died on Thursday.

Gavin Boyle, chief executive of the trust, said: “This is a very sad day for the UHDB family.

“Krishnan was a hugely valued member of the team who had worked tirelessly this year to support those who needed care.

“Our thoughts are with his family at this time and I would like to offer our sincere condolences to them on behalf of everyone at UHDB.”

England’s former chief medical officer has  claimed the country was ill-prepared for “the wrong pandemic” because officials felt a virus would “never travel this far”.

Dame Sally Davies said she questioned whether the country should rehearse for a coronavirus outbreak in 2015, but was told it would not “reach us properly” by Public Health England officials.

She told The Daily Telegraph officials focused on the threat of pandemic influenza, and the country was therefore prepared for the “wrong pandemic”.

Kopenhagen Fur, the world’s largest fur auction house, will be closing its doors within the next two to three years.  

The announcement came just hours after the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) published a report highlighting concerns that the evolution of Covid-19 in mink has potential implications for diagnosis, treatment and vaccine development, and could undermine the effectiveness of future vaccines in humans.  

Last week, The Independent reported how Denmark planned to cull as many as 17 million mink over fears a new coronavirus mutation capable of spreading from the animal to humans could put future vaccines at risk.  

Dr Joanna Swabe, senior director of public affairs for Humane Society International/Europe said “The ECDC report points at fur farms as potential virus factories capable of churning out mutations of COVID-19 and even undermining medical progress towards reliable treatments.  

“The report further validates the decision by the Danish government to respond to the public health risk that is presented by the fur trade, and should be a serious wake-up call for mink farming countries not yet systematically testing mink to take urgent action.” 

Almost a fifth of Liverpool residents have taken part in a mass coronavirus testing pilot in its first week, according to the city’s mayor.  

Joe Anderson said 90,000 people had been tested since last Friday, when the city began offering tests to everyone regardless of whether they have symptoms.  

The figure is 18 per cent of the city’s population of just under half a million.  

Mr Anderson told BBC Breakfast 430 people had tested positive, with only about 200 of them showing symptoms before they had a test.  

Disruption caused by Brexit will not delay the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccine to the UK, the transport secretary has said.

Grant Shapps said he could rule out such delays, which are expected to hit ports on 1 January whether or not the UK has signed a deal.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said there should be no disruption to the delivery of the coronavirus vaccine if the UK leaves the EU without a trade deal in place.

Asked about the possibility, he told Sky News: “I’ve absolutely no concern whatsoever that the vaccines we’ve purchased… that we will make sure we have those for this country.”