UK reports highest daily Covid-19 cases since early February

LONDON – Britain has reported another 18,270 coronavirus cases in the last 24-hour period, the highest since early February, according to official figures released Saturday.

The total number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the country now stands at 4,717,811.

The country also recorded another 23 coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the national death toll to 128,089. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test.

More than 44 million people in Britain have received the first Covid-19 vaccine jab and more than 32.2 million people have received two doses, the latest figures also showed.

The latest data were revealed as adults in England are able to get a Covid-19 vaccine without an appointment at hundreds of walk-in sites across the country this weekend.

In the “grab a jab” campaign, those aged 18 and over can turn up at the National Health Service (NHS) drop-in sites, including football stadiums, theaters, supermarket car parks and shopping centers, The Guardian newspaper reported.

The vaccine hubs are open to people having their first dose but can also provide second jabs for the over-40s who had their first at least eight weeks ago, or at least 12 weeks ago for the under-40s, according to the report.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a four-week delay to the final step of England’s roadmap out of Covid-19 restrictions until July 19 amid a surge in cases of the Delta variant first identified in India.

Britain reported 35,204 new cases of the Delta variant in the latest week, a 46-percent increase, Public Health England said Friday, adding the Delta variant now comprises 95 percent of all sequenced cases.

Experts have warned that coronavirus may continue to evolve for years to come, and eventually it is likely current vaccines will fail to protect against transmission, infection, or even against disease caused by newer variants. (Xinhua)