Daily UK Covid cases fall by 7% as 3,150 more people test positive and another 60 die days before lockdown eases

CORONAVIRUS cases have fallen by 7% in a week with 3,150 new infections recorded in the UK in the last 24 hours.

A further 60 deaths were also reported, bringing the total to 127,040.

? Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates…

 

The rise in cases brings the total number since the beginning of the pandemic to 4,365,461.

Today's infection figure is down from last Friday's total of 3,402 – and significantly lower than the 6,187 reported a fortnight ago. 

Deaths are up slightly from the 52 reported this time last week, but below the 70 fatalities recorded on March 26.

The latest data shows 38,444,540 doses of the Covid vaccine have now been administered in the UK.

This includes 31,903,366 first doses and a whopping 6,541,174 second doses.

It comes as:

  • Twice-weekly free rapid lateral flow tests for all available TODAY in huge Covid boost for freedom
  • Brits in 30s could be offered alternative to AstraZeneca Covid jab over rare blood clot fears
  • Spain and Italy may be added to safe list as Brits get green light to book summer holidays and free Covid tests on cards
  • Airlines warn holidays will STILL be too expensive for most Brits from May due to ‘unnecessary’ PCR tests
  • Millions of adults at risk of undetected health conditions after missing routine tests during Covid lockdown

The falling cases and deaths come just days before some restrictions lift on Monday.

And they provide hope that Britain will see the end of lockdown come June 21.

Pubs, shops and gyms reopen next week as part of the UK's first major step out of lockdown.

Some venues have vowed to serve pints from midnight while hairdressers and beauticians have also promised to restart treatments as soon as the clock strikes 12.

But despite things looking up, the official coronavirus R rate has stalled close to the critical 1 in England.

As infections continue to fall across the country the R rate has remained stagnant at 0.8 to 1 for the third week running.

 

Last week Government advisers at Sage failed to agree on the figure for across the UK because case numbers are so low.

Sage again said today: "No UK estimates for R and growth rate have been agreed."

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has insisted foreign holidays will be able to resume "safely and sustainably" under new Government plans.

But travel firms have slammed measures to force holidaymakers returning from low-risk destinations to take an "expensive and unnecessary" type of coronavirus test.

Mr Shapps announced a "framework" for resuming overseas leisure travel which includes requiring all arrivals to take pre-departure and post-arrival coronavirus tests.

Post-arrival tests must be the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) type which cost around £120, he revealed.

This is despite pleas from the travel sector to allow travellers returning from countries on the "green" list under the new risk-based traffic light system to take lateral flow tests, which are cheaper and quicker.

Source: Read Full Article