UK tops six million COVID cases - as 31,808 new infections recorded

More than six million coronavirus cases have now been recorded in the UK since the start of the pandemic, government data shows.

It comes as a further 31,808 COVID-19 infections and 92 coronavirus-related deaths were reported in the latest 24-hour period.

In total, 130,178 people have died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test since March last year, with 6,014,023 cases recorded overall.

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Yesterday, the UK recorded 30,215 cases and 86 deaths.

This time last week, on 30 July, 29,622 cases and 68 deaths were recorded.

172,692 people received their second vaccination yesterday, taking the total to 39,047,529 – meaning 73.8% of the UK’s adult population is now fully inoculated.

35,500 people were given their first dose of a COVID jab, taking the total to 46,961,830 (88.8% of adults).

The latest figures come as it is estimated England’s R number has fallen to between 0.8 and 1.1, suggesting the pandemic could be shrinking.

Last week, it was between 1.1 and 1.4.

This latest R value, or reproduction number, means on average every 10 people infected with the virus will go on to infect between eight and 11 others.

Data published today from Public Health England has found that a third of patients currently in hospital have already received two doses of the vaccine.

Yet, Professor Peter Openshaw, who is a professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London, said it is important to emphasise this “does not mean the vaccine is completely ineffective” in stopping people being hospitalised.

Meanwhile, a new government campaign has urged young people to get their jabs or risk missing out “on the good times”, in a bid to get vaccination rates up.

However, Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of industry body UKHospitality, warned that “raging” at young people over the low uptake ran the risk of having the “opposite effect”.

She tweeted: “Can we please put this in context? +2m 18-24 year olds have taken the opportunity to be vaccinated since first invited to 6 weeks ago – that’s two thirds!

“Faster take up than older demographics – raging at them for low take up may have the opposite effect.”

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Holiday travel chaos continues, as extra flights are being scheduled in a last-minute scramble to bring UK holidaymakers back from Mexico before the country is added to the red list.

British Airways has added three flights from the capital Mexico City to London to help travellers avoid a mandatory stay in a quarantine hotel upon their return.

British Airways said in a statement it “worked hard to make changes to our operation” after the government announced updates to its travel lists on Wednesday night. It said seats remain available and customers can book on to these flights at no extra cost.

Those arriving in the UK from red list countries have to spend 11 nights at a government-approved quarantine hotel.

From 12 August, the rate for solo travellers at these hotels will rise from £1,750 to £2,285.

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Also, it has been revealed climate minister, Alok Sharma, who is responsible for November’s climate conference, travelled to 30 countries in seven months but did not isolate when he returned.

Labour minister David Lammy said the behaviour was “bizarre” and sets a bad example ahead of COP26.

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