Hundreds more die after testing positive for Covid
A further 275 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 43,812, NHS England said on Friday.
Separate figures showed there were a further 424 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.
There have been a further 797 cases of Covid-19 in the North-East and North Yorkshire.
Self-isolation for Covid contacts cut to ten days ahead of Christmas
The self-isolation period for contacts of a positive coronavirus case will be cut from 14 days to 10 days in the run-up to Christmas.
Those required to quarantine after returning from countries which are not on the travel corridor list will also see their isolation period reduced, in an approach agreed by all four nations.