TODAY’S Covid case total is the lowest daily figure in five WEEKS – as Boris Johnson heaps praise on Brits for hitting the 10million booster jab mark.
A further 30,305 people tested positive today – the lowest since October 2, when 30,301 cases were recorded.
Meanwhile, a further 62 people died, the smallest figure recorded all week.
And Sunday marked a triumphant day for Britain’s monumental vaccine drive, as 409,663 booster jabs were dished out in the UK yesterday alone.
The total brings the UKs booster jab total past the 10million mark.
Boris Johnson took to Twitter to share the news, writing: “An amazing 10 million people across the UK have already come forward for their booster.
“We know vaccine immunity wanes over time, so boosters are vital in keeping you and your loved ones protected through the winter.
“Please get this lifesaving jab as soon as you are called.”
But a top medic today stressed that while Covid cases did peak last month, Brits still face a long and difficult winter if they don’t get jabbed.
Dr Susan Hopkins, the chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency, said 58,000 Covid infections were recorded on October 18 alone – the highest of any daily rise so far.
She said that the UK is now at the flattening of the peak- but the country could still stay at a “very, very high level like this”.
In order to prevent further deaths, the health chief urged Brits to get vaccinated and warned people shouldn’t hesitate to take up their booster jab.
Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show, Dr Hopkins said: “There’s over 60% of the population that are being offered boosters [who] are taking it up.
“I think it’s slower than we saw in the first round.
“I think that may be due to people thinking they’re already protected, which is why we’re giving a lot of public health messages about why it’s so important for them to come forward for that third dose.”
Over 9million people have taken up their offer to get the booster jab so far, while more than 45million have two doses of the vaccine.
Yesterday, new daily Covid deaths in the UK dropped for the fourth day in a row, as 155 fatalities were recorded.
Another 30,693 positive Covid cases were also confirmed, marking a 25.6 per cent dip on last Saturday.
The figures came after deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam last week warned of a “problematic” Christmas and winter ahead as deaths are still essentially “increasing”.
He added that we will have to “wait and see” whether the situation improves or if cases levelling are simply “a pause before things go up”.
PLAN B
Sage member Professor Dame Anne Johnson, said today the Government’s Plan B to control the spread of the bug is still “very much in consideration”.
She told LBC: “As I understand it, Plan B is still in consideration.
“We’re only at the beginning of winter and I think if we want to avoid any restrictions in the future, or indeed reduce the damage, we need to think about all the things that we can do, which include not just vaccinating, which is very important, but also going to isolate when we’re sick, get tested.”
Meanwhile, Dr Hopkins said she hopes this year will be “the last Christmas” we have to consider wearing masks.
She said: “Hopefully this will be the last Christmas where we have to think that way.
“I do think, though, that this is going to be part of our endemic seasonal influenza and other respiratory viruses.”
