LONDON

The daily number of deaths due to COVID-19 across the UK remained above 300 for a second day as 310 more people died of the virus, according to official figures.

The heath authorities said on Wednesday that 24,701 more daily cases have been registered across the country.

The number of COVID-19 deaths a day before was 367, the highest since late May.

With the latest addition, the total number of deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive test has risen to 45,675.

The latest numbers came as the British government faces mounting pressure to tighten lockdown measures across the country.

The rising number of deaths are likely to "continue for some time," according to Dr Yvonne Doyle, the medical director of Public Health England.

Prof. Andrew Hayward from UCL's institute of epidemiology and a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, told Sky News that the government was in danger of leaving it "too late" to impose a short national lockdown to bring transmission under control.

The UK is using a localized lockdown system since the start of the second wave of the virus outbreak.

Liverpool, Lancashire and Greater Manchester have been placed under the restrictions due to the new 'three-tier' local lockdown system. The new system restrictions depend on the rates of infection.