TAKING ITS TOLL
UK Covid cases highest in a MONTH with 38k new infections and 140 more deaths
UK Covid daily cases are the highest they've been in a month with 38,281 new infections recorded today.
And the death toll in the UK has risen by 140 in the last 24 hours, according to Government figures.
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The last time coronavirus infections were so high was on July 22 - when there were 39,906 cases reported.
Today's grim figure brings the total number of people infected with the virus since the pandemic started to 6,628,709.
And the total number of Covid deaths now stands at 132,143.
This comes as the Covid vaccine programme in England is estimated to have directly averted between 102,500 and 109,500 deaths, according to figures from Public Health England.
Previous estimates had put the number between 91,700 and 98,700 deaths.
The number of hospital admissions directly averted by the programme is estimated at 82,100.
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But with rising case numbers, some experts have given a stark warning as schools begin to open up again in September.
Professor Tim Spector, the lead scientist on the Zoe Covid study, said the virus had "found an opportunity to spread" as restrictions were lifted this summer.
The professor of genetic epidemiology at King's College London added: "Unfortunately, we're back in a position where cases, hospitalisations and deaths are all going up and the UK has the highest rates of Covid in Europe, despite our superior vaccination rates.
"The main difference between the UK and Europe is our lack of restrictions. In many parts of Europe, people are still wearing face coverings and observing some social distancing.
"In the UK, where we eagerly declared 'freedom' from Covid and did away with even the most basic social measures, Covid has found an opportunity to spread.
"As kids head back to the classrooms, there's a good chance cases will continue to rise from here."
He added that the Zoe Covid study data suggested fully vaccinated people now make up nearly 30 per cent of positive cases.
He said the study shows people infected after being double-jabbed are more likely to experience symptoms like a cold than flu and said it is "critical to be aware of the symptoms of Covid after vaccination".
He added: "Our data shows post-vaccination infections are much more like a cold than the flu, with the top symptoms being runny nose, headache, sneezing, sore throat and loss of smell.
"We're again calling on the Government to add these cold-like symptoms to their list to help educate the public and catch more cases."
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting to extend the vaccine rollout to 12 and 15-year-olds as the dominant and more transmissible Delta variant continues to grip the UK.
Devi Sridhar, professor of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, said vaccine advisers are being "very cautious" but warned that "waiting and watching costs time".
Asked about 12 to 15-year-olds being offered jabs, she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Either you're going to be exposed to Covid without any protection or you can be exposed and have a vaccine.
"And we should be offering teens that vaccine so they have that protection before going back into schools."
Scotland's deputy first minister John Swinney said the return of Scottish schools this term had contributed to a rise in cases in the country.
Prof Sridhar said: "I think the issue is they (the JCVI) are being very cautious.
"They're waiting and watching and I guess the issue with a pandemic is that waiting and watching costs time."
She said not jabbing this age group now would mean "they've lost that window of time".
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Prof Sridhar added: "It's an emergency situation and we have Delta, which is so infectious. I mean, it's just flying through schools as we know.
"But not just here, Germany, Denmark, even places like New Zealand and Australia are struggling with Delta compared to the original virus."
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