COVID-19: Another 1,725 coronavirus deaths in UK – as 7.1 million people have now received first jab
Written by News on 27/01/2021
A further 1,725 coronavirus deaths have been reported in the UK – the second highest daily figure in the country since the pandemic began.
The highest number of daily deaths reported in a single day was the 1,820 fatalities confirmed on 20 January.
A total of 101,887 people have now died in the UK within 28 days of a positive COVID test since the start of the pandemic.
Another 25,308 cases were recorded in the latest 24 hour period – compared to the 20,089 infections that were confirmed yesterday.
A further 311,060 people were confirmed to have had their first vaccine dose on Wednesday, while another 1,710 people were reported as having had their second dose.
The latest figures mean a total of 7,164,387 have had their first dose, while 474,156 people have had both jabs.
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson has acknowledged a “sense of frustration” about the patchy nature of the roll-out on Wednesday.
Mr Johnson also set out tougher measures to prevent the arrival of new strains of coronavirus into the UK, confirming plans for a 10-day quarantine in hotels for travellers from high-risk countries.
In a Commons statement, the prime minister said he would set out the government’s strategy for the “gradual and phased” easing of lockdown in the week beginning 22 February.
Mr Johnson has earmarked 8 March as the date England’s schools may begin to reopen.
The prime minister confirmed that hopes of pupils returning to class after the February half-term have been abandoned as the battle with coronavirus remained “perilous”.
The March reopening date is based on progress in vaccinating the most vulnerable groups in society by mid-February and then giving the jab time to take effect.
Mr Johnson also said the easing of “economic and social restrictions” could only take place “then or thereafter” 8 March.
The prime minister told MPs: “The first sign of normality beginning to return should be pupils going back to their classrooms.”
Schools are remaining closed and restrictions are in place as more than 37,000 patients are now in hospital with coronavirus – almost double the peak of the first wave.
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Mr Johnson said arrangements to provide free school meals for eligible pupils would be extended and an extra £300 million will be available for tutoring to help children catch up on missed lessons.
Referring to the death toll which is now greater than 100,000, Mr Johnson said: “The most important thing we can do to honour their memory is to persevere against this virus with ever greater resolve.”
He urged people to “hold our nerve in the endgame of the battle” against coronavirus.
(c) Sky News 2021: COVID-19: Another 1,725 coronavirus deaths in UK – as 7.1 million people have now received first jab
