UK Covid deaths at lowest for three weeks as 189 more die and another 14,718 test positive

COVID cases and deaths in the UK have fallen again with 14,718 people testing positive and 189 dying from the virus. The new cases bring Britain’s total to 1,737,960 while the death toll is now at 61,245. Positive cases have been falling showing the positive results of England’s four-week lockdown, which ended last Wednesday. Yesterday […]

COVID cases and deaths in the UK have fallen again with 14,718 people testing positive and 189 dying from the virus.

The new cases bring Britain’s total to 1,737,960 while the death toll is now at 61,245.

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Positive cases have been falling showing the positive results of England’s four-week lockdown, which ended last Wednesday.

Yesterday deaths rose by 231 while new Covid-19 infections increased by 17,272.

And last Monday there were 12,330 new cases and 205 new deaths – meaning there was a decline for both figures compared to last week.

The latest death toll is the lowest the UK has seen since November 15 when 168 people passed away from coronavirus.

Figures for both new infections and deaths have been levelling off over the last seven days due to the strict lockdown in England and tough restrictions in both Wales and Scotland.

 Today’s statistics come as:

• The Covid-19 vaccine will be given to Brits starting from tomorrow.
• A SAGE scientist has warned that January could see a “severe peak” in new infections over “concerning” Christmas shopping scenes.
• Nottingham’s Christmas market was closed 24 hours after opening after it attracted mass crowds the first weekend after lockdown.

In Wales, there has been a further 2,021 positive cases bringing the total number to 91,013.

Public Health Wales reported another two deaths, taking the total in Wales since the start of the pandemic to 2,711.

Scotland has recorded one death from coronavirus and 677 positive tests in the past 24 hours, Nicola Sturgeon said.

It brings the death toll under this measure – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – to 3,917.

Ms Sturgeon said 100,783 people have now tested positive in Scotland, up from 100,106 the previous day.

Across the UK there are 974 patients in hospital who have tested positive which is up by 23 people in the last 24 hours.

Of these, 59 are in intensive care, down from three since yesterday.

Vaccines are to be rolled out tomorrow making Britain the first country in the world to administer jabs to the general public.

In England, 50 hospitals have been earmarked to lead the vaccination roll-out.

The vaccine used will be the one created by Pfizer/BioNTech which has been approved for use and is 95 per cent effective, according to studies.

People have to receive two jabs 21 days apart for the vaccine to be fully effective.

It’s hoped the mass vaccination programme will mean the coronavirus restrictions can be lifted in spring 2021.

People aged 80 and over, care home workers and NHS workers who are at higher risk will be the first to receive the vaccine.

Care home residents will also be among the first to receive the vaccine although there is no set date for this to be rolled out.

Hancock said: “We are doing everything we can to make sure we can overcome significant challenges to vaccinate care home residents as soon as possible too.”