UK reports 108,069 new COVID cases and 359 more deaths

The UK has recorded a further 108,069 new COVID cases and 359 deaths in the past 24 hours, the latest data reveals.

More new coronavirus infections were reported on Wednesday than on Tuesday – when they stood at 84,987.

But they were down on the same day a week ago – when daily COVID cases were at 129,587.

The number of new deaths recorded on Wednesday is slightly higher than Tuesday’s 400 and last Wednesday’s 398.

Figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also reveal that 75,088 booster jabs were given out in the most recent 24-hour period, alongside 29,434 second doses and 18,032 first jabs.

This brings the percentage of the population over 12 vaccinated with booster doses to 63.7%.

Plan B measures scrapped from next Thursday

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The figures come hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed England will remove all Plan B measures from 27 January.

People in England will no longer be advised to work from home from tomorrow when face masks in classrooms will also be scrapped.

A week later people will no longer be legally obliged to wear face masks on public transport, in shops and other indoor spaces and COVID passes will stop being mandatory for large events.

How are the COVID rules changing in different parts of the UK?

The PM said it was time to “trust the judgment” of the public when it comes to wearing masks and said that their use would still be “suggested” in indoor spaces where you mix with people you don’t usually meet.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid will also announce plans to ease restrictions on care home visits in “the coming days, he added.

Mr Johnson expressed his intention to get rid of COVID self-isolation completely when the next set of measures expire on 24 March – but this could be brought forward.

PM says Omicron has ‘peaked nationally’

He credited the “extraordinary booster campaign” with being able to move to ‘Plan A’, telling the House of Commons: “Our scientists believe that our Omicron wave has now peaked nationally”.

The PM noted that infections were still rising in some places, particularly the North East and North West, and that hospital pressures there were still high.

But he said that COVID in the UK is becoming “endemic” and that the data has shown the government got “the toughest decision right”.

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Scotland and Wales are also planning to remove most COVID restrictions by the end of the month, but with rules on face masks remaining in place.

The prime minister made the announcement after an explosive PMQs which saw former minister David Davis tell him he should resign.

What would it take for the PM to be ousted by his own party?

At least six Tory MPs have publicly called for Mr Johnson’s resignation following numerous allegations of lockdown parties inside Downing Street and Whitehall during various periods of restrictions in 2020 and 2021.

However after his announcement on COVID rules, Johnson loyalist and Tory MP Jonathan Gullis told Sky News some of his colleagues have withdrawn letters of no confidence in him.

A total of 54 Conservative MPs would need to submit letters to the backbench 1922 committee to trigger a formal vote of no confidence. Mr Johnson would then need the support of 181 MPs to survive.

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