Britain's daily Covid cases fall by another third in a week with 3,030 more positive tests


Britain’s daily Covid cases fall by another third in a week with 3,030 more positive tests – while deaths rise slightly to 53

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Britain’s daily Covid cases have fallen by a third in a week but deaths have crept up slightly, official figures revealed today as Boris Johnson faced fresh calls to speed up his lockdown easing plans.

Department of Health figures showed another 3,030 cases and 53 deaths were recorded today – which was two more fatalities than last Thursday. 

More than 31.8million Britons have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine. Almost four times more second doses were dished out compared to first doses yesterday as the crucial 12-week deadline draws near. 

It comes as yet more data today revealed England’s Covid outbreak remains in retreat, with cases now tumbling to levels not seen since last summer.

Public Health England statistics showed the Covid outbreak shrunk in every age group and region in England last week. Darlington was the only council to register a slight rise in infections.

And the symptom-tracking app run by King’s College London experts estimated Covid cases had halved in a week across the country, with around 1,500 people falling ill every day.

Separate figures also showed almost 94 per cent of over-70s now have Covid antibodies to fight off the virus, highlighting the enormous success of Britain’s vaccination drive.

Professor Tim Spector, an epidemiologist who leads the KCL study, said: ‘These figures are among the lowest in Europe. Admissions and deaths are also continuing to decline, putting the UK in a similar place to July last year.’

Former Tory cabinet minister Sir Iain Duncan Smith told MailOnline the promising data meant the exit from lockdown ‘should be quicker’ because the Prime Minister’s current roadmap dates are ‘deeply pessimistic’.

But Health Secretary Matt Hancock defended the Government’s cautious approach saying ‘we have seen what happens when this virus gets going’, and added that the roadmap is designed to achieve an ‘irreversible’ return to something close to normal life.

Pubs and restaurants are set to reopen for outdoor service in England on Monday, with shops and hairdressers also again set to be allowed to welcome customers.

But the next shutdown easing is six weeks away, with foreign holidays not set to be permitted until May 17. The earliest date all restrictions could go under Boris’ plan – except masks and social distancing – is June 21.

Department of Health data today showed 3,030 Covid cases were recorded, which was down by 32 per cent on last Thursday

Department of Health data today showed 3,030 Covid cases were recorded, which was down by 32 per cent on last Thursday

Health chiefs also announced another 53 deaths from the virus, which was two more than the same time last week

Health chiefs also announced another 53 deaths from the virus, which was two more than the same time last week

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