UK reports seven more COVID deaths as nearly 37 million people have had a vaccine dose

The UK has reported another seven coronavirus-related deaths and 2,412 new cases in the latest 24-hour period, according to government data.

The figures compare to five deaths and 1,979 cases announced on Monday, while 20 deaths and 2,474 cases were revealed last Tuesday.

Since the pandemic began, 127,691 people in the country have died within 28 days of testing positive for COVID-19, and there have been 4,450,392 laboratory-confirmed infections.

It comes as a further 106,733 people in the UK had a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine on Monday, taking the total to 36,811,405.

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Another 259,049 received their second jab on Monday, meaning 20,546,452 have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in the UK.

The latest data was revealed as Boris Johnson said there was “nothing conclusive to say we need to deviate” from plans to end coronavirus restrictions on 21 June.

Amid fears that rising cases of the Indian COVID variant could push back England’s roadmap out of lockdown, the prime minister said “we are looking very carefully at the data…what’s happening…the epidemiology…the extent to which the new variant may be more transmissible”.

He said “we will know a lot more in a few days’ time” and promised to “keep people informed” and “continually updated”.

He stressed it underlined the need for people to get vaccinated, if they are eligible.

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Mr Johnson said data from hotspots including Bolton, Blackburn, Bedford and Sefton were being examined to find out more about the impact of the variant.

As the number of cases of the Indian variant B.1.617.2 nearly doubled in a week to 2,323, Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the House of Commons on Monday that the majority of people admitted to hospital in Bolton with it had been eligible for the jab but had not taken it up.

Sky analysis found the Indian coronavirus variant of concern appears to be spreading rapidly, with a 44% weekly increase in the number of areas in England recording a case.

Meanwhile, surge testing is being carried out in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, following the detection of the Indian variant.

NHS Test and Trace is providing additional testing and genomic sequencing in the Wembrook and Abbey wards of the town following the identification of confirmed cases of the B1617.2 variant.

Also, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggest deaths involving COVID-19 in England and Wales have fallen by 99% from the peak of the second wave of the virus.

Most age groups are seeing the lowest number of deaths for nearly eight months, as the impact since January of lockdown restrictions and the vaccination rollout push down the number of infections and hospital admissions.

A total of 125 deaths occurred in the week ending 30 April where COVID-19 was recorded on the death certificate, according to the ONS.

This is down 99% from 8,979 deaths in the week to 22 January, the peak of the second wave, when more than 1,000 deaths were happening each day.

The number of patients in hospital in England with COVID-19 has dropped to its lowest level for eight months, separate figures show.

A total of 798 patients were in hospital at 8am on 17 May, according to NHS England. This is the lowest number since 691 on 13 September 2020.

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