Covid cases in the UK have reached record levels, with 78,610 new cases reported on Wednesday, as the Omicron variant continues its rapid spread.

The figure surpasses the previous peak in UK cases – infections that are picked up through testing – of 68,053 reported on 8 January this year.

According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), 4,671 new cases of Omicron were reported on Wednesday, bringing the total to 10,017.

The figures came as Dr Jenny Harries, the chief executive of the UKHSA, told the Commons transport committee that Omicron was “probably the most significant threat we’ve had since the start of the pandemic” and that the data expected on growth rates over the next few days “will be quite staggering compared to the rate of growth that we’ve seen in cases for previous variants”.

“The difficulty is that the growth of this virus, it has a doubling time which is shortening – ie it’s doubling faster, growing faster,” she said, adding that when Omicron first arrived the doubling time was estimated to be four or five days.