THE number of daily Covid deaths in the UK dropped to just seven yesterday – but cases are up slightly as the Indian variant spreads. Another 2,027 cases were reported, bringing the total since the pandemic began to 4,448,851. The latest figures also mean the UK’s Covid death toll now stands at 127,675. Today’s infection […]
THE number of daily Covid deaths in the UK dropped to just seven yesterday – but cases are up slightly as the Indian variant spreads.
Another 2,027 cases were reported, bringing the total since the pandemic began to 4,448,851.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest updates
The latest figures also mean the UK’s Covid death toll now stands at 127,675.
Today’s infection figure is down from last month’s 2,672, and significantly below the 5,089 recorded on March 15.
And deaths have fallen dramatically from the 30 reported this time last month, and the 64 recorded two months ago when schools reopened.
The latest data also shows 56,018,988 doses of the Covid vaccine have now been administered in the UK.
This includes 36,320,867 first doses and a whopping 19,698,121 second doses.
The figures come as the Indian variant of the virus continues to spread throughout the UK.
It has been detected in Bolton, Greater Manchester, as well as in Blackburn, Lancashire, and Sefton in Merseyside, which have all seen rates rise rapidly.
It comes as:
Bolton is the area with the highest rate of cases – almost ten times the UK average, with the equivalent of 228.5 cases per 100,000 people.
It has seen a particularly sharp rise in cases among unvaccinated under-25s.
Everyone in living Bolton has been invited to get a coronavirus vaccine before 5pm today to halt the spread of the deadly strain.
Queues of hundreds of people were seen waiting today for testing and vaccinations as the locals scramble to do all they can to keep their town out of another local lockdown.
Yesterday Boris Johnson announced that the army is set to be deployed in the town in a race to crack down on the strain.
Surge testing had already been deployed in the area in order to detect cases of the Indian and South African variant.
The PM said: “We will be throwing everything we have at this task. Colonel Russ Miller, commander of the North West region, will be deployed to support local leaders in managing the local response on the ground.
“For those living in Bolton there is now a new, greater risk from this variant. The army will be out on the streets handing out tests.”
The rising Indian variant cases are putting Britain’s June 21 ‘Freedom Day‘ under threat.
The PM said he is ruling “nothing out”, as he vowed to combat the spread of the infectious mutation.
He insisted the Monday’s unlocking of restrictions – including socialising in groups of six indoors – would still take place, but the total lifting of lockdown on June 21 cannot be guaranteed.
To add to the fear, a government adviser warned today that Covid vacccines are “almost certainly” less effective at cutting transmission of the Indian variant.
Prof Harnden, deputy chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The vaccines may be less effective against mild disease but we don’t think they’re less effective against severe disease.
“But in combination with being less effective against mild disease, they’re almost certainly less effective against transmission.”
