THE number of people dying of Covid has dropped by almost a fifth in a week – but cases have risen as Brits are urged to get their booster jabs before winter.
Another 214 people have lost their lives to the deadly virus – a welcome plunge on the 262 fatalities recorded a week ago.
But 37,243 more people have tested positive for the bug. Last Tuesday, 33,117 new cases were reported.
And the number of people dying each week in England and Wales is at its highest level overall since March, it’s been revealed today.
A total of 995 people died of coronavirus in both countries in the week ending November 5, according to the Office for National Statistics.
It’s the highest number since the week to March 12 during the 2021 national lockdown, when 1,501 coronavirus deaths were registered.
The latest weekly figure is up 16 per cent on the previous week, with around one in 12 – 8.6 per cent – of all deaths registered mentioning Covid-19.
While fatalities have crept up, they remain significantly lower than those registered last winter during the second wave.
DEATHS AT HIGHST POINT SINCE MARCH
At its peak, some 8,433 deaths involving coronavirus were registered in the week to January 22. The highest number that occurred on a single day was 1,484 on January 19.
Today, the head of the NHS in England said the health service is facing a “really tough winter”.
Amanda Pritchard told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think we are facing a really tough winter.
“I would just say the best thing that the public could do to help us really is just to take out that offer of a vaccination.
“If they are due a booster, please take it, but equally the evergreen offer is there so anyone who’s not had a first or second jab can still access services anytime.
“The flu jab is also an important way of just protecting yourself, protecting the people you love.
‘REALLY TOUGH WINTER’
“The other thing that the public can do to help us is still to come forward if they have health concerns or worrying symptoms, because the NHS is here for our patients.
“And that’s true over what will be a very busy winter, just as it’s been true over the last 18 months.”
Boris Johnson has also urged Brits to get their third jabs ahead of a difficult winter.
It was announced this week that over 40s will be able to get the booster – while teens aged 16 and 17 will be offered a second jab.
The PM said: “If we want to control the epidemic in the UK then we must all get vaccinated as soon as we are eligible.
“We are making second jabs available for 16-17 year-olds and boosters available to all those 40-49, six months after their first dose.
“Over time, the protection from two jabs starts to wane, but the third jab boosts protection up to 90 per cent.
“Many more people who are eligible have not yet come forward, if you are one of those people please go and get that third jab.
“It would be a tragedy if people who have done the right thing and got double vaccinated got seriously ill or lost their lives by not getting their booster.”
