Writing in the Daily Mail, Health Secretary Sajid Javid insisted any fresh curbs on freedoms must be an absolute last resort , as revellers were pictured partying in clubs, bars and pubs across England.
UK Health Security Agency data shows there were 162,572 new infections over the last 24 hours, an increase of 33 per cent on the number recorded on Christmas Day when there were 121,880.
Thousands of revellers headed out for an early New Year s Eve party, with their numbers boosted by Scots and Welsh people fleeing domestic Covid-19 restrictions.