UK Covid deaths down a quarter in a week after 758 more people die as cases rise by 15,114 to total of four million

UK Covid deaths dropped by a quarter in a week as 758 more fatalities were today recorded while the total number of cases hit four million.

The 15,114 new infections have brought the total number of positive cases to 4,013,799.

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PA:Press Association

There are hopes Covid is loosening its grip on the UK[/caption]

The latest fatalities are a 25 per cent decrease on the 1,014 tragic deaths recorded last Friday.

The total number of victims in the UK killed by the bug now stands at 116, 287.

But there are hopes the country is getting over the darkest days of the pandemic with 15,114 cases recorded today – a 20 percent decrease compared to the 19,114 infections last week.

So far 14,012, 224 first doses and 530,094 second doses of the vaccine have so far been administered.

The seven-day rolling average of first doses given in the UK is now 503,116.

It comes as the coronavirus R rate has dropped below 1 for the first time since July.

The official figure – which represents the number of people an infected person will pass Covid onto – is now between 0.7 and 0.9, Sage said today.

Levels haven’t been this low since July last year, fuelling hopes that lockdown restrictions could be lifted.

Last week the number across the UK was 0.7 to 1.0. The figure in England last week was 0.7 to 0.9.

When the R is below 1, it means transmission is low and the epidemic is shrinking – but greater than that number suggests it’s growing.

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It comes as:

• Covid lockdown should be lifted ‘sooner rather than later’ as cases fall to near June level, says expert
• Brits could be allowed to mix indoors by May with restrictions eased ‘every 3 weeks’ from March 8
• Covid vaccines are ‘ALREADY stopping Covid deaths’ – as roll out to over 60s begins
• Social-distancing ‘will remain until AUTUMN while Brits must keep wearing masks for months’ to stop Covid spread

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During the April peak, the highest Covid daily death toll recorded was 1,010.

n England, a further 407 have died of Covid-19, bringing the grim tally to 78,152.

Patients were aged between 25 and 101 years old and all except for 17 had underlying health conditions, according to NHS England.

Scotland has recorded 67 deaths from coronavirus and 830 positive tests in the past 24 hours, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said.

In Northern Ireland, a further 407 new cases were reported, and nine people sadly died.

In the past 24 hour, 25 deaths and 608 cases were recorded in Wales.

Yesterday, 678 more fatalities were recorded while cases fell by 34 per cent.

The 13,494 new infections have brought the total number of positive cases to 3,998,655.

The total number of victims in the UK killed by the bug now stands at 115,529.