SPREAD SLOWS
UK Covid cases plunge 30 per cent in a week with 2,064 infections and six deaths recorded in last 24 hours
COVID cases have plunged by 30.3 per cent in just a week with 2,064 infections and six deaths recorded in the last 24 hours.
This time last week there were 2,963 new cases and four deaths recorded, while two weeks ago there were 3,568 cases and 13 new deaths.
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The number of cases reported today is the lowest Monday total since August 31 when 1,406 were reported.
Scotland reported no new deaths today, while Northern Ireland's toll raised by one, and two were seen in Wales.
The UK's total death toll now lies at 127,434 while the total cases is 4,406,946.
Yesterday’s stats showed daily Covid cases had halved in a month with 1,712 new infections and 11 deaths.
Meanwhile as of today 33,752,885 people had been given a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
And 12,897,123 people have received their second jab.
It comes as Brits in their thirties are reportedly set to be offered their Covid jabs within days.
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The NHS will reportedly start inviting thirty-somethings for the vaccine by the end of next week, after securing 40million Pfizer doses for the UK.
Officials are close to finalising a deal to purchase tens of millions more doses of the Pfizer vaccine in time for a third booster dose to be given to the elderly this autumn, .
And government sources have told the paper they hope to roughly double the UK’s original order of 40 million jabs.
If negotiations are successful, the extra stock could be used for those in their twenties, who are to be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca jab amid blood clot fears.
It was recently projected that the 35 to 39 age group would be invited to book an appointment for their vaccine in the second half of May.
But according to The Times this could now happen much sooner.
Until now, it's been estimated those aged 30 to 35 could be called by late May or early June, with those aged 18 to 24 and 25 to 29 during the rest of June and July.
Meanwhile a pill that could kill Covid within hours of taking it could put an end to lockdowns, an expert has said.
At-home coronavirus treatments are being investigated, with the hope of finding one by the autumn.
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Known as antivirals, they stop coronavirus from replicating in the body to “stop Covid-19 in its tracks”, according to the prime minister who announced the search for such a drug last week.
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It is hoped that antivirals could help to reduce spread of the virus and limit the impact of any new variants, such as that from South Africa, Brazil and India.
Although it is not clear which drugs the Government will study, the flu drug favipiravir is the only antiviral currently being trialled in the UK.
Pill that could ‘kill’ Covid within HOURS could put end to future lockdowns
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