Britain's daily Covid cases fell again today, official data showed as one of the Government's top scientific advisers issued a gloomy warning over Christmas.
Department of Health bosses posted 41,299 positive coronavirus tests in the last 24 hours, down six per cent on last Wednesday's figure of 43,941. Cases have fallen week-on-week every day for eleven days barring Monday — a blip that was down to Wales not publishing any infection numbers the previous week.
Hospitalisations remained flat on Saturday, the latest date data is available for. Some 888 patients were admitted with the virus, down 0.7 per cent on the week before.
But deaths are continuing to increase, jumping 4.8 per cent on last week's total to 217. Changes in fatality levels lag several weeks behind cases because of how long it can take for infected patients to become severely ill.
The figures come after Professor Jonathan Van-Tam today warned Britons that another Christmas lockdown could be on the cards if people act like the pandemic has finished.
England's deputy chief medical officer said there were 'hard months to come' and the country's infection rate was 'running hot' already heading into what is expected to be a tough winter for the NHS. In one of his now-famous analogies, he added: 'The final whistle on Covid hasn't blown yet.'
Professor Van-Tam urged the nation to behave responsibly and emphasised the importance of face masks — but did not outright call for their enforced return in public spaces.
In other coronavirus developments today:
A member of No10's vaccine advisory group said it is 'far too early' for the UK to begin jabbing children as young as five; It was claimed second Covid vaccine doses will be approved for all 16 and 17-year-olds in the UK within days; A series of critical tweets aimed at Government in the run-up to the eminent scientist who quit SAGE after condemning England's laissez-faire response to the third Covid wave shared a his resignation were revealed; Unions warned tens of thousands of care home workers face being sacked within days because they are not fully vaccinated against Covid.The Government said a further 217 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid today.
Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have been 166,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid was mentioned on the death certificate.
Addressing the nation in a Q&A this morning, Professor Van-Tam told BBC Breakfast: 'Too many people believe that this pandemic is now over. I personally feel there are some hard months to come in the winter and it is not over.
'Christmas and indeed all of the darker winter months are potentially going to be problematic.'
Asked about how another festive lockdown can be prevented, he said it depended on 'how cautious we are' and the UK's vaccination drives. He urged people to come forward for their booster and flu jabs when invited.
No10 is rolling out booster vaccines to over-50s and vulnerable patients, as well as jabs for children aged 12.
But the Government has said it will have to implement its winter 'Plan B', including the return of coverings, working from home and vaccine passports at large events, if the NHS comes under 'unsustainable' pressure over the coming months.
There are signs infections are already starting to come down and No10's expert advisory panel has said that if people's behaviour remains cautious then the NHS should not be pushed to the brink by Covid this winter.
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, England's deputy chief medical officer, says there are still 'hard months to come' and the country was 'running hot' too early in autumn
