The UK's coronavirus hospital death toll has increased by 831 - the most announced on a single day since the first wave in April.
England reported 674 fatalities, Wales had 76 Scotland recorded 68, and Northern Ireland had 13 to bring the overall hospital total to 62,905.
It is the highest daily toll since 873 deaths were announced on April 21. By comparison, the totals announced on recent Wednesdays were 556 on December 30, 535 on December 23, 445 on December 16 and 426 on December 9.
The highest number of hospital deaths reported on a Wednesday was 936 on April 8, when the UK was going through its first peak of the pandemic.