New Covid wave could 'easily take off again' as deaths hit lowest since October

A NEW wave of Covid could "easily take off again" as deaths hit their lowest level since October, a top medical adviser has warned.

Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries made the comments as deaths caused by the bug hit their lowest levels in five months.

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Dr Harries told a press conference today: "This is the level at which a new wave could easily take off again from and we need to persist with all of these actions."

She also warned the case rate is "still quite high" and is at the same level as the end of last September.

Dr Harries said Covid stats showed "a pleasing picture" but that it had "some caution attached to it".

She said: "Now that case rate is still falling, it's below know 100 per 100,000 in every region across the country, but it's not uniformly across the country so it's really important that we continue to practice social distancing handshakes and spaces the Prime Minister has said, and continue to observe all of our hand washing as well."

Daily Covid deaths in the UK are at their lowest level since October, with 65 fatalities.

There were an additional 4,712 cases recorded in the past 24 hours, the lowest daily increase since September 25.

Coronavirus deaths haven't been this low in the UK for five months.

Daily Covid deaths have now dropped below 100 for the first time since October 19.

Today's figures take the total Covid cases to 4,223,232, with 124,566 deaths.

FALLING FIGURES

This time last week, deaths rose by 104, and cases increased by 5,455.

The total a week ago was 42 per cent lower than the 178 deaths recorded on February 22.

Yesterday, daily Covid deaths fell to 82, the first time the number dropped below 100 since October.

The daily death toll plunged 44 per cent of last Sunday's figure of 144 in the latest sign the Covid vaccine rollout is reducing fatalities.

Daily death tolls are lower than average on Sundays due to a lag in reporting fatalities over the weekend.

Today's stats come as pupils head back to school.

Pupils up and down the country attended lessons for the first time since December, with a huge mass testing operation under way and extra Covid precautions in place.

Boris Johnson has insisted the country is now "ready" for the return of schools with cases, hospitalisations, and deaths having all plunged in recent weeks.

He said now "the risk is actually in not going back to school given all the suffering, all the loss of learning we have seen" and that he's "very hopeful" that things will go “according to plan".

Secondary school pupils will be asked to take three tests at school over the next two weeks, and after that will be provided with two tests a week to carry out at home.

They will also be strongly encouraged to wear masks in the classroom until at least the Easter holidays.

Primary school kids won't have to don face coverings, but extra guidance has been introduced saying visitors and staff should use them in areas where social distancing between adults isn't possible, such as corridors.



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