omicron
The figure was revealed by health secretary Sajid Javid as booster vaccine programme expanded.
The gov.uk website stopped taking orders for lateral flow test kits on Monday.
After Boris Johnson's announcement, there has been a rush on vaccine centres and some stocks of lateral flow tests have run out.
The government has called for 18 million people to be offered a third vaccine dose by the end of the year.
"In the fight against this pandemic, there are no guarantees."
The health secretary said there have not been reported deaths from the new variant.
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Some 58,194 daily Covid-19 cases recorded in the UK – the highest figure since January 9.
Michael Gove is to host the four nation meeting just days after No10 rejected a request from Scottish and Welsh First Ministers to meet.
The mood of the country is dire, but it's still the season to be jolly.