UK records another 3,398 coronavirus cases and seven related deaths

The UK has recorded another 3,398 coronavirus cases and seven further deaths, the latest government figures show.

It comes after 4,182 cases were reported on Friday – the highest daily total since 1 April – while 10 deaths within 28 days of a positive COVID test were also reported.

Meanwhile, the latest numbers show 39,068,346 people have had a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine and 24,892,416 people have had two doses.

Yesterday, the first dose figure stood at 38,871,200 and the second dose figure stood at 24,478,052.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock also relayed the vaccine news on Twitter, saying that 74.2% of adults have been vaccinated once for COVID-19, while 47.3% of adults have had two vaccines.

He went on to thank those who are working “incredibly hard in our vaccine rollout,” adding: “When you get the call, get the jab.”

There are hopes the rollout could be further bolstered in the coming weeks, after the MHRA approved the single-shot Johnson & Johnson jab for use in the UK, adding to the growing portfolio of vaccines.

However, the figures come amid fears COVID infections could be “growing exponentially” and calls for the government not to repeat the mistake of acting too late to tackle the spread of the virus.

Sir Tim Gowers – whose argument against herd immunity helped trigger England’s first lockdown last year – told Sky News that recent increases in coronavirus cases “worries me”.

“They seem to be multiplying by a certain fraction each day – in other words, growing exponentially,” he said.

“We’re still at a reasonably low base but, on the other hand, we know that there’s a lag.

“Even if we were to take serious action and more social distancing action, that growth would continue for a while until the effect of that action kicked in.”

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