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UK Covid deaths hit lowest since Christmas with 215 fatalities and 9,834 cases as Boris Johnson plots lockdown roadmap
BRITAIN has recorded its lowest daily death toll since Christmas - with another 215 fatalities reported today.
Cases rose by 9,834, bringing the total to 4,115,509.
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Today’s rise in fatalities brings the total number since the beginning of the pandemic to 120,580.
It is lower than the 258 deaths recorded last Sunday, and far below the 373 deaths reported on February 7.
And it is also the smallest rise since December 13, which saw 144 fatalities.
Infections are also down on last Sunday's figure of 10,972 in a sign that lockdown measures are continuing to curb transmission.
It comes as:
- Another British town will deploy surge testing after the South Africa strain was identified
- Thousands of fans could be allowed to attend Euro 2020 and music festivals this summer with rapid Covid tests
- Boris Johnson will address the nation at 7pm tomorrow to lay out his lockdown roadmap
- Pubs could reopen for indoor drinks in May should infections continue to fall
- Labour boss Keir Starmer has defied union calls to keep schools closed in a boost for the PM’s reopening plan
Meanwhile, separate figures showed 258 further deaths in English hospitals today.
Wales recorded 16 further deaths, while Scotland and Northern Ireland reported five and four fatalities respectively.
NHS England also confirmed that an extra 334,679 Brits were given their first dose of the vaccine yesterday, taking the total past 17.5 million.
And 2,432 second doses were rolled out, bringing the total to 615,148.
The latest figures show that a third of the UK adult population has now been given the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine as the rollout goes from strength to strength.
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Boris Johnson will address the nation tomorrow to spell out his roadmap out of lockdown.
The PM has repeatedly stressed he will take a “cautious and prudent” approach to easing restrictions, and will be guided by “data not dates”.
Under his plans, schools will reopen from March 8 - though the government may opt for a staggered return following a backlash from teaching unions.
Brits will also be able to socialise outside with a friend or relative from another household, with current regulations limiting meet-ups to exercise only.
Later in April, non-essential retail is expected to open should the infection rate continue to remain stable.
However, the hospitality industry is not set to reopen fully until May - though pubs could be allowed to serve pints outside before this date.
The Sun understands the opening of outdoor pub areas is likely to be introduced in April as the PM finalises his roadmap over the next 24 hours.
A senior aide today : "The two areas where people have been hurt are in education and the fact that no one has been able to have social contact with friends and family.
"That’s why schools and outdoor socialising come first."
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It comes after the Sun today revealed Boris - who is expected to ditch the tiers system - had been given the confidence to unlock the UK faster thanks to the success of the jabs programme.
More than 17million people have already received their first dose of the vaccine.
And Boris has vowed to offer every adult in Britain a Covid jab by the end of July.
Matt Hancock today announced that one in three adults in the UK had received a coronavirus vaccine, and that the Government is confident it has the supplies to meet the July 31 target.
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But despite the success of the vaccine rollout, Matt Hancock urged Brits to be patient as lockdown is eased.
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He told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "The vaccination programme, whilst clearly going very well, will take time to be able to reach all people who have significant vulnerability, especially because we need to get the second jab to everybody.
"We've got time that needs to be taken to get this right. The Prime Minister will set out the road map tomorrow and he will set out the full details - taking into account that we need to take a cautious but irreversible approach, that's the goal."
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Outdoor family gatherings could be allowed within weeks as lockdown eases
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