UK Covid deaths plummet to 19 in second-lowest toll since September as 3,862 new cases recorded

CORONAVIRUS deaths have plummeted to 19 – the second lowest toll since September.  A further 3,862 cases were recorded, the lowest daily infection total in six months. The rise in fatalities means a total of 126,592 Brits have died during the pandemic, while 4,333,042 people have been infected. It is 42 per cent below last […]

CORONAVIRUS deaths have plummeted to 19 – the second lowest toll since September. 

A further 3,862 cases were recorded, the lowest daily infection total in six months.

PA

Covid deaths have plummeted to 19 – the second lowest toll since September[/caption]

The rise in fatalities means a total of 126,592 Brits have died during the pandemic, while 4,333,042 people have been infected.

It is 42 per cent below last Sunday’s total of 33, and far lower than the 52 deaths recorded a fortnight ago.

Infections are down on last Sunday’s toll of 5,312 – and also below the 4,618 cases reported on March 14.

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It comes as…

• The Moderna vaccine will be rolled out next month in a boost to the vaccine rollout
• Lorry drivers arriving in the UK will need Covid tests to stop mutant strains
• We look at everything that will change tomorrow as lockdown is eased
• The public must not ‘squander gains’ made against the virus, the NHS boss has warned
• Brits keen for a holiday have been warned that overseas trips may not be allowed until August

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Separate figures show a further 23 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total to 86,176. 

Patients were aged between 15 and 91 and all except one had known underlying health conditions.

Northern Ireland reported two fatalities, while Wales and Scotland reported no deaths in the past 24 hours.

The milestone comes on the same day that ministers confirmed that the Moderna vaccine would be rolled out to Brits by the end of April – with offers expanded to under-50s.

Culture secretary Oliver Dowden said the US-manufactured jab could arrive in the UK “later this month” in a huge boost for the vaccination programme.

It follows a report in the Mail on Sunday which claimed doctors would begin using the Moderna vaccine in just three weeks.

Asked about the Moderna jab, Mr Dowden told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “We don’t get into supply chains but the Health Secretary has indicated that he would expect later this month we would start to see Moderna.

“We do expect the Moderna vaccine to come later this month.”

Under the plans, more than 500,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine will be added to millions of Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca jabs that will be administered in the UK.

GREAT JAB

Elsewhere, the total number of vaccinations today passed 30 million as Matt Hancock hailed the “phenomenal achievement”.

According to the latest figures, 423,852 people received their first shot yesterday, meaning 30,151,287 Brits have now received at least their first dose. 

And 201,335 have received their second dose, taking the toll to past 3.5 million.

It comes just over fifteen weeks after 91-year-old Margaret Keenan made history by being the first Brit to receive the jab on December 8.

Since that date, the UK’s immunisation programme has surged ahead – with the government smashing its target of vaccinating the four most vulnerable priority groups by mid-February. 

Daily vaccinations have continued at an extraordinary pace in the past month – peaking on March 20 at 753,659.