THE number of people testing positive for Covid in the UK has risen by 12 per cent in a week.
But deaths have dropped to the lowest daily total in six days.
2
A woman receives her first Covid jab at the UK's first nightclub vaccine centre - the Nightingale Club in Birmingham Credit: PA 2
A further 27,429 fresh cases were reported in the last 24 hours, as well as 39 deaths.
The latest figures bring the total number of infections since the pandemic began to 6,069,362.
And the UK's coronavirus death toll now stands at 130,320.
Cases have risen dramatically since this time last week when 24,470 were recorded.
But they are down from the 31,772 reported on July 11.
Daily deaths have dropped from the 65 on August 1, but are up compared to the 26 on July 11.
Today's total is the lowest since August 2 when 24 fatalities were recorded.
Despite Britain this week passing the bleak milestone of 130,000 deaths and six million cases since Covid hit, the situation is now far brighter than experts predicted.
It comes as...
Young people are ‘getting their second Covid vaccination two weeks early’ to go on overseas summer holidays without quarantine Holidaymakers are furious after being charged ￡150 for Covid tests billed as ￡20 on government website Schools are already planning Covid vaccinations for kids as young as 12 in final push to beat bug Prof Neil Ferguson says lockdowns are unlikely to be needed again as the UK will manage Covid with jabs amid falling cases Army HGV drivers are put on standby to relieve Britain’s chronic shortage of truckers and food AstraZeneca jab may be ‘so effective Brits who had vaccine might not need boosters’
Just weeks ago, Health Secretary Sajid Javid warned there'll be 100,000 cases a day by the end of the summer.
Instead, infections are currently averaging at between 20,000 and 30,000 a day.
Public Health England also said the crucial R rate — a measure of how virulent it is — has plummeted as low as 0.8 for the first time since lockdown.
It provides hope that the UK is now approaching post-pandemic life.
The UK's vaccination programme is contributing, with 86,466,264 doses being administered.
Of these, 47,036,796 are first doses and 39,429,468 second.
However, an expert today warned more Covid lockdowns could still happen later in the year.
Mark Woolhouse, professor of infectious disease epidemiology, urged the government to "leave the door open" for future restrictions.
Most read in News
Comment
TREVOR KAVANAGH Jabs stroll-out and extreme lockdown? Welcome to the land down blunder
holiday chaos Brits face being BANNED from French bars & attractions by jab passport scheme
FIGHTING BACK Covid hospital admissions plunge 82% from winter peak after 86m vaccine doses
rape horror Brit woman, 50, raped as she lay unconscious on street in Majorca
FIN-CREDIBLE Moment family spot 'massive SHARK’ just yards from Norfolk beach
'HEARTBROKEN' Manchester attack survivor, 20, found dead in bedroom 4 years after bombing
Boris Johnson is also reportedly leaning towards a more cautious approach - and has become "the most pessimistic person in the room" when discussing the UK's Covid response.
The PM is believed to have been "scarred" by having to cancel the festive season for millions.
"He is still haunted by Christmas," a source said.
Another Covid lockdown could STILL happen, expert warns as he urges government to 'keep possibilities open'