THE UK’s daily Covid cases has risen to 126,604 today – due to a backlog from a lack of reporting over the weekend.
It comes as another 139 people were reported to have died from the bug. also including Saturday and Sunday.
This takes the infection total in the UK up to 19,245,301, and the number of tragic fatalities to 152,147.
The Government stopped publishing infection and death figures over the weekend a few weeks ago.
It came after the Prime Minister ripped up the Covid rulebook and scrapped isolation laws, with testing supplies soon to be cut.
It follows news the global death tally from Covid has now reached more than six million since the start of the pandemic.
Figures from Johns Hopkins University showed fatalities have reached the tragic landmark figure as Covid enters its third year.
Death rates around the world are still highest among those who are unvaccinated.
But confirmed deaths aren’t thought to represent the actual number, partly due to testing challenges globally and how the cause of death is attributed.
Vaccines are the best way to get through the Omicron wave, experts have repeatedly said – and slash the risk of serious illness or hospitalisation in yourself and others.
The variant is milder than previous strains, especially in the vaccinated, but can spread quickly which is why cases had rocketed.
Any new variants could remain as mild as Omicron, but it could be the case that a slightly more severe one emerges – which is why it’s important to keep on top of your jabs.
The risk of being hospitalised, dying or having a severe illness is far lower now – with most people having cold-like symptoms.
Boris Johnson brought the curtain down on months of curbs last month, saying it was now for ordinary Brits – not ministers – to decide how people live their lives.
Last week it was revealed the Sage group of government science advisers is being stood down and will no longer meet to discuss Covid.
The move marks another step back to normality as most lockdown laws expire this month.
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies has been headed by England’s Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty and UK Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.
It met 105 times during the pandemic to help ministers understand data and studies about coronavirus and give advice on restrictions.
