CORONAVIRUS deaths have plunged by 31 per cent in a week with a further 70 fatalities reported today.
A further 6,187 cases were recorded, bringing the total to 4,325,315.
Today’s rise in fatalities brings the total to 126,515.
Cases are up from last Friday’s total of 4,802, though deaths are down from the 101 reported a week ago.
Despite the infection rate stabilising, cases are still below the 6,609 recorded a fortnight ago.
It comes as:
- The official coronavirus R rate crept up in parts of the countries but remains below one
- A police chief warned cops could struggle to stop large outdoor gatherings as lockdown is eased
- France has warned the UK will have ‘problems‘ getting 2nd doses amid an escalating jab row with the EU
- Cops won’t arrest people for leaving the country despite a new £5,000 fine
- The UK is set to offer all adults a jab by July despite a vaccine row with the EU
Separate figures from NHS England showed a further 43 deaths in English hospitals, bringing the total to 86,096.
Patients were aged between 47 and 94 and all except three (aged between 47 and 66) had known underlying health conditions.
Meanwhile, government figures showed 324,942 Brits had received their first dose of the coronavirus jab yesterday. It means 29,316,130 people have had the first shot.
And 234,382 Brits received their second dose yesterday, bringing the total to 3,009,863.
The figures come as the UK’s official coronavirus R rate crept up – nearly three weeks after the reopening of schools.
The R rate – the number of people an infected person will pass Covid on to – is between 0.7 to 0.9 across the UK, and between 0.8 and 1.0 in England.
Last week Sage estimated it was between 0.6 and 0.9.
Data from the ZOE Symptom Tracker app revealed that infections have crept up by seven per cent in the last week.
Professor Tim Spector, who heads up the study said a divide was emerging in England.
He said: “We’re seeing the regions diverge with Scotland, Wales, the Midlands and the North of England recording higher figures than in the South.
‘NO CAUSE FOR CONCERN’
“As expected, cases in children are rising slightly off the back of schools reopening, and this effect is felt more strongly in Wales and Scotland where schools went back earlier.
“This is a necessary impact of unlocking society and numbers are currently well under control and aren’t a cause for concern.”
Meanwhile, a top police chief has warned that cops may find it more difficult to enforce rules on large gatherings outdoors as restrictions ease on Monday.
Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), today said it would be “challenging” to clamp down on law breakers as the rule of six returns next week.
The government’s ‘stay at home’ rule will end on Monday, with up to six people or two separate households allowed to meet up outside.
But police chiefs worry that enforcing the rules as restrictions ease could be a challenge – with Brits tempted to gather in large groups in the warmer weather.
There are also fears that Brits could meet in larger groups than six people – but claim they are from two households.
