UK Covid deaths drop by 40% in a week in lowest Saturday figure in 6 months as PM says data allows lockdown easing

UK COVID deaths today dropped by 40 per cent in a week – in what is the lowest daily rise recorded on a Saturday in the last six months.

Another 58 fatalities were confirmed, along with 4,715 new cases.

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The latest figures mean 126,573 people have died in the UK since the start of the pandemic, while a total of 4,329,180 have caught the bug in Britain.

Today's rise in fatalities is the lowest Saturday figure since October 3 last year, when 49 deaths were confirmed.

It is also 40 per cent smaller than last Saturday’s figure of 96, while cases are down 15 per cent on the 5,587 reported this time last week.

The Saturday before last, 121 fatalities were recorded, along with 5,534 new infections.

And a month ago, on Saturday February 27, deaths went up by 290.

It comes as:

  • Boris Johnson said lockdown would be eased on schedule and vowed "I'll be down the pub"
  • Covid mutations could reinfect people every two to four years, a professor has warned
  • The Rule of Six will return from Monday as lockdown is eased
  • Weddings can go ahead from April 12 with 15 people and outdoor receptions
  • A senior politician has warned face masks and social distancing could be in place for ten years

Government data up to March 26 shows a total of 33,020,952 Covid vaccines have now been given in the UK so far.

Of those, 29,727,435 were first doses – a rise of 411,305 on the previous day – while 3,293,517 were second doses.

Meanwhile, separate figures showed a further 58 coronavirus deaths in English hospitals, bringing the total to 86,154.

Scotland recorded six deaths, while Wales recorded seven and Northern Ireland registered no fatalities.

Today's figures come as Boris Johnson said lockdown easing would go ahead on schedule and vowed to be back down the pub "in a few days' time".

An upbeat Prime Minister said he can't wait to go to the barbers when hairdressers reopen and sip his first pint in his local on April 12.

Speaking at the Conservatives’ virtual spring forum on Saturday, Boris said he can see nothing in the data to dissuade him from continuing along his lockdown easing roadmap.

He said: "In just a few days’ time, I’m finally going to be able to go to the barbers.

“But more important than that, I’m going to be able to go down the street and cautiously, but irreversibly, I’m going to drink a pint of beer in the pub.

“And as things stand, I can see absolutely nothing in the data to dissuade me from continuing along our roadmap to freedom, unlocking our economy and getting back to the life we love.”

Restaurants and pubs in England will be able to serve customers in outdoor seating areas from April 12 in phase two of the lockdown easing.

BACK ON HOLS

Meanwhile, ministers are contemplating a three tiered warning system to help kickstart international travel after lockdown.

The measures aim to simplify travel restrictions, while also preventing returning Brits importing vaccine busting covid variants. 

Arrivals from green countries would require hardly any restrictions for travellers apart a 15 minutes lateral flow test – likely taken when arriving in the UK.

Amber nations will likely require negative PCR tests before travel and some form of quarantine, as well as a lateral flow test on arrival.

But hotel quarantine will continue for all red list nations.

It comes amid warnings from scientists that opening up international travel could see new Covid strains enter the country.

Speaking this morning, Professor Paul Hunter, of the University of East Anglia, warned that mutant variants would emerge even as the pandemic recedes – but not all of them would be a cause for concern.

The World Health Organisation has currently identified three variants of 'concern' which could have significant public health implications if they become dominant.

These include the Kent strain – which is more transmissible – and the South Africa and Brazil variants, which experts fear could be more resistant to vaccines.


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