The UK has recorded the highest number of Covid related deaths since last winter, according to the latest government data.
A further 534 people have died within 28 days of a positive test which is the highest figure since 23 February last year when it was 548.
The higher daily death toll is likely due to a recording lag of deaths behind case numbers, as seen at other points during the pandemic.
In the last 24-hour period, 88,085 new infections were recorded compared to 112,458 reported yesterday.
This time last week saw a total 102,292 new cases.
Case numbers have substantially dropped since peaking around New Year with 245,182 infections reported on January 4.
This week's figures show a sharp rise after reinfections in England and Northern Ireland were included for the first time.
It means a Covid sufferer who has tested positive at least 90 days after a previous infection will now be considered a reinfection, according to the UKHSA.
Perviously, people were only counted in the data the first time they tested positive for the virus.
ONS data suggest the numbers have slightly increased recently because of the virus tearing through primary school aged children.
But while Wednesday's number of deaths was the highest in nearly a year, the total for the last seven days was down slightly on the previous seven-day period.
The latest seven-day period recorded 624,034 new Covid cases which is down 3.5 per cent.
A further 1,806 people died from Covid related deaths in the last seven days which also marks a drop – of 1.4 per cent.
As of 1 February, 52,373,222 Brits have had a first dose of a Covid vaccine while 48,467,140 have had a second dose.
The latest figures show 12,735 had their first jab on Tuesday when 26,367 people had their second shot.
A further 37,984 people had their booster or third dose of the vaccine bringing the current total to 37,380,067.
NOTE - The headline on this story was changed post-publication to reflect the fact that the unusually high number of Covid deaths recorded was down to a data backlog
