THE UK’S daily covid deaths are over 200 for the third day in a row – after another 217 Brits lost their lives to the killer bug.
It brings the total amount of deaths in Britain since the start of the pandemic to 141,395.
Meanwhile another 37,269 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the last 24 hours – a slight dip from yesterday.
In comparison, yesterday the UK saw 217 deaths and 41,299 cases reported.
And on Tuesday, statistics showed another 293 deaths and 33,865 cases.
It comes as experts have been warning that the next week-and-a-half is a critical time for the country.
The number of people infected with the bug surged last month, with positive tests almost doubling from September to October.
In total, an astonishing one in every 58 people were infected between October 19 and 29.
A total of 1.72 per cent of the population had coronavirus over the ten-day window – a higher toll than recorded in January, when the figure was 1.57 per cent as the Delta mutation took over.
The south-west was worst hit, with one in every 42 people returning a positive result.
The area around Bristol was particularly badly-affected.
It’s believed the high results are linked to the Immensa testing lab scandal, which saw thousands of people send false negative results when they were actually infected.
Meanwhile, the virus continues to tear through schools, the React-1 study found.
It comes as a pill that Brits could take at home to protect them from serious Covid illness have been approved.
The UK’s drugs regulator today declared molnupiravir as “safe and effective” at slashing hospitalisations and deaths in people who have caught the killer bug.
In a release today, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), said: “Molnupiravir has been authorised for use in people who have mild to moderate Covid-19 and at least one risk factor for developing severe illness.
“Such risk factors include obesity, older age (>60 years), diabetes mellitus, or heart disease.”
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Today is a historic day for our country, as the UK is now the first country in the world to approve an antiviral that can be taken at home for Covid-19.
“This will be a gamechanger for the most vulnerable and the immunosuppressed, who will soon be able to receive the ground-breaking treatment.
“We are working at pace across the government and with the NHS to set out plans to deploy molnupiravir to patients through a national study as soon as possible.
“This antiviral will be an excellent addition to our armoury against Covid-19, and it remains vital everyone comes forward for their life-saving Covid-19 vaccine – particularly those eligible for a booster – to ensure as many people as possible are protected over the coming months.”
