A further 7,738 coronavirus cases and 12 deaths have been recorded in the UK, the latest figures show.

The number of new infections reported on Saturday is less than Friday’s total of 8,125 – which was the highest since late February.

Another 202,846 first COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered over the latest 24-hour period, taking the total to 41,291,331.

The number of second doses was 285,513, which means 29,450,653 people are now fully vaccinated.

What proportion of the population have had a coronavirus vaccine in the UK?

It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson admitted that the rise in daily case numbers and spread of the Delta (Indian) variant has made him less optimistic all coronavirus restrictions will be lifted in England on 21 June.

The Daily Telegraph has reported that the government will delay the lifting of the restrictions by a month.

Speaking to Sky News political editor Beth Rigby at the G7 summit in Cornwall, he said it is “clear” the Delta variant is “more transmissible” and that coronavirus cases and the number of people in hospital is increasing.

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“Just to cheer you up a little bit more, what I can tell you is the scientists are agreed about one thing – they do not think there is any case for going into reverse,” he said.

“What we’re looking at is, yes absolutely, an increase in cases, we’re seeing an increase in hospitalisations.

“But the context has radically changed because of the sheer number of people who have been vaccinated and particularly the elderly and vulnerable.

“So the objective now is to give that vaccination programme the legs, the impetus, the speed it needs to beat the spread of the virus. And I’ve got no doubt that we can.”

A final decision about whether to proceed with the final stage of the government’s lockdown roadmap will be announced by Mr Johnson on Monday.

A number of high profile figures from the sectors that are set to be hardest hit by any delay to the unlocking, have warned of the potential consequences.

Any delay also risks triggering a row with some politicians in Mr Johnson’s party who are anxious about the impact on business.

Karan Bilimoria, president of the Confederation of British Industry, said many firms in sectors such as hospitality
were barely breaking even under the current rules.

He said: “If there’s a full delay for two to four weeks, then it’s got to be irreversible: we cannot have stop-start and as long as that is clarified we will have to cope with this delay.”

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