Coronavirus latest: Luton spike increases with 24 new diagnoses today while total passes 700 milestone

Today's rise has overtaken yesterday's increase of 13 as the largest daily peak of new cases in May.

Luton had previously been experiencing a steady period of decline, with just two new cases diagnosed last week.

There are similar increases elsewhere in the county, Central Bedfordshire has 614 (+19) cases, while Bedford has 603 (+19).

Across the UK, a total of 254,195 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19, increasing by 3,287.

A further 351 people with coronavirus have died in hospital in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 36,393.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has led today's daily coronavirus briefing, outlining new travel restrictions.

These include a compulsory quarantine for travellers coming into the UK, to be enforced with spot checks and a possible £1,000 fine

It has also been reported that the coronavirus reproductive rate in the UK is still too high, and has missed the government's target for a second week in a row.

Scientific advisors claim this is caused by the continued spread of the virus in care homes and hospitals, rather than the wider community.