The UK has recorded its lowest daily rise in coronavirus cases so far this year, with 22,195 reported in the last 24 hours.
The number of deaths also fell to 592 the lowest daily total recorded for a fortnight although the figures after the weekend are generally lower. It brings the total to 97,939.
Week on week, new cases have fallen by 25%.UK hospital admissions on Thursday last week were 3,547 – the lowest daily figure since 2 January (3,431). Week on week, hospital admissions are down 7.3%.However there were 4,076 hospital patients in the UK on mechanical ventilation – the highest total at any stage in the pandemic.
On Saturday 491,970 people received a first dose, but on Sunday it was 220,249.More than seven million people in the UK have had at least one Covid vaccine since the programme was launched.
In the North West, 796,059 first doses and 63,593 second doses have been administered , making 859,652 in total
Earlier Boris Johnson said that data on when lockdown restrictions can start to be eased will be assessed before mid-February.
Matt Hancock hosting the Downing Street news conference said that 78.7% of all over-80s have received their first vaccine dose adding that the UK is “on track” to reach its target of providing a first dose to all four top priority groups by 15 February.More than one in nine of the adult population have now had it
A further 32 large-scale vaccination centres have opened.
The Health Secretary added :”We’re making progress with the vaccine, and the end is in sight. We cannot put that progress at risk.”
