The UK has recorded a further 2,284 coronavirus cases and 11 related deaths, according to the latest government data.
The numbers are down slightly on the 2,474 daily cases and 20 deaths reported on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a total of 35,722,461 people have now received a first dose of a COVID vaccine – up from the total of 35,587,348 recorded on Tuesday.
And 18,438,532 people have now had two vaccine doses – up from the total figure of 18,088,385 recorded on Tuesday.
It comes as NHS sources told the PA news agency that all those aged 38 and 39 will be able to book their COVID vaccinations from tomorrow morning in England.
Meanwhile, a report issued by an independent panel into the handling of the pandemic found that the World Health Organization (WHO) should have declared a global emergency earlier than 30 January 2020 and recommended travel restrictions to prevent the outbreak of the COVID pandemic.
It also found that the pandemic was a preventable disaster that could have saved 3.4 million lives.
Elsewhere, the prime minister announced that an independent public inquiry into the UK government’s handling of the pandemic will begin in the spring of next year.
Boris Johnson revealed the news in a COVID-19 statement to MPs on Wednesday, telling the Commons it will be able to take oral evidence under oath and put “the state’s actions under the microscope”.
