UK Covid cases drop to lowest in five weeks with 21,952 infections and 24 new deaths
DAILY Covid cases have dropped to the lowest figure recorded in five weeks – with another 21,952 positive tests in the past 24 hours.
It’s hoped the UK may now be past the peak of the third wave after new infections dropped by 12 per cent in a week.
Deaths are also comparatively low, with 24 more fatalities recorded – 63 per cent fewer than yesterday, when 65 more families lost loved ones.
Britain’s successful jabs roll-out has been heralded for breaking the link between infections and severe illness – and this weekend, it was reported that 32million of us will be offered a booster jab this autumn.
Those who were given the Pfizer vaccination will be offered a third dose if they’re over 50 or their immune system is suppressed.
And health chiefs are continuing with their push to get youngsters jabbed – as one expert said he fears they believe “infections don’t matter”.
It comes as:
- The NHS Covid app has been tweaked so fewer contacts have to self-isolate from today
- Virus patients of any age are at risk of suffering a heart attack in the first two weeks after contracting the illness, experts have warned
- The PM refuses to rule out a new ‘amber watch list’ – and admitted his concern over new variants
- Bin lorry drivers are being offered £3,000 bonuses to clear a huge backlog of rubbish
- China forces millions back into lockdown as the Delta variant hits 20 cities in the biggest outbreak since Wuhan
Stephen Reicher, professor of psychology at the University of St Andrews, said more needs to be done to convince younger adults to get their inoculation.
“In many ways the implication has been there that infections don’t matter,” he said.
“So, if the Health Secretary can say ‘We’re going to have 100,000 cases a day, that doesn’t matter, we’re still going ahead with our policy’, and when you see reopening everywhere, it does begin to send the message that infections don’t matter.
“And in fact there’s some evidence that the young people are beginning to say ‘Well, why should I get vaccinated if it doesn’t really matter, if infection doesn’t matter, why should I do things to avoid infection?'”
Concerns that young people are deciding not to get the shot comes as the UK reopens its borders to fully-jabbed travellers from the US and EU.
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Anyone from either the states or the bloc can now come into the country without the need to self-isolate.
But confusion remains about holidays for Brits – with travel thrown into chaos for the second summer in a row.
Rishi Sunak is hoping to rescue sunshine breaks amid concerns over a new ‘amber watch list’.
The move would mean holidaymakers would be warned the country they visit could be moved on to the red list at short notice.
This would leave them facing a bill of £1,750 on their return to pay for compulsory hotel quarantine.
‘COMPLETELY BONKERS’
Last night, a source said: “You would have to be completely bonkers to book a holiday knowing you could go on to the red list.”
And transport select committee chair Huw Merriman told BBC Radio 4: “An amber watchlist will be viewed as a massive red flag which is likely to cause bookings to those countries on that watchlist to collapse.
“In my view, we don’t need any more uncertainty, complexity, or anxiety for passengers, or this beleaguered sector.
“It just needs clarity. I would urge the Government not to do anything with it.”
But Boris Johnson has refused to rule out plans for a separate list.
SUMMER HOLS HOPE DASHED?
The PM said he is “anxious” about importing new variants of Covid from abroad as he dodged questions on whether he personally favours tougher restrictions on foreign trips.
He said: “I understand that people care very much about their holidays, people want to go abroad, I understand how much people plan, prepare, for the summer holidays.
“But we have also got to remember this is still a dangerous virus and we must try and stop variants coming in, must stop importing variants from abroad, so we have to have a balanced approach.
“What I want to see is something that is as simple and as user-friendly for people as possible.”
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However, there is good news for people desperate to do some travelling in 2021.
It’s thought Germany, Poland, Canada, Austria, Romania, Bosnia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia could be added to the green list this week.
Experts said a further five nations – Bhutan, French Plynesia, North Macedonia, Norway and Saudi Arabia – have seen a big enough drop in new infections to make the green watchlist.
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