Britain's Covid crisis fell on all fronts today, official statistics showed with cases dropping for the first time in a week.
Department of Health bosses posted 38,263 new infections over the last 24 hours, down 2.7 per cent on the 39,329 recorded last Wednesday.
It was the first time Britain's cases fell week-on-week in the last seven days, after English children returned to schools at the end of last month.
Data also revealed 201 people died with the virus today, down 6.1 per cent on the 214 recorded last week. It is the third day in a row the number of fatalities has fallen.
And the number of people being admitted to hospital with Covid fell 6.7 per cent to 778 last Friday, the latest date national data is available for.
The positive picture comes as Ireland's chief medical officer today claimed cancelling Christmas plans in the country is a 'responsible decision'.
Ireland has become the latest European country to reintroduce Covid curbs, forcing all hospitality businesses including nightclubs and pubs to close at midnight tomorrow.
Meanwhile, an Israeli study today revealed Covid immunity wanes within six months of Pfizer's second vaccine no matter how old you are.
NHS England boss Amanda Pritchard yesterday said the health service is already putting plans in place to deliver a yearly Covid booster vaccine campaign in Britain.
In other coronavirus developments today:
Britain's vaccine advisory panel recommended children should wait at least 12 weeks after catching Covid to get their jab; Official figures revealed almost 10,000 extra people have died from non-Covid illnesses in England and Wales than would be expected since summer; A care worker who was dismissed from her job for refusing to get a Covid vaccine said she has been left feeling 'worthless'; Research claimed living in a city filled with toxic air could mean you get sicker if you catch Covid.Today's figures take Britain's overall toll up to 143,360 dying within 28 days of catching the virus.
Alternative ONS statistics suggest 166,730 people have died with Covid mentioned on the death certificate.
Boris Johnson has so far resisted pressure to resort to Plan B, with No10 hoping that the booster roll-out will stop the NHS succumbing to 'unsustainable' pressure this winter without the need for masks and vaccine passports.
On Monday the Prime Minister admitted that a Christmas lockdown was not completely off the cards, making a desperate plea for Britons to get their top-up jabs and warning 'storm clouds' of infection were gathering over Europe.
Amanda Pritchard, NHS England's chief executive, warned yesterday that the health service would face a 'winter like no other' this year due to Covid, staffing shortages and unprecedented demand.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson yesterday repeated his loose threat of needing to take tougher action this winter as he told his cabinet that the country was 'still not out of the woods' in fighting the virus.
Meanwhile new research of more than a million Israelis today revealed immunity after two doses of Pifzer's vaccine wanes in a all age groups, prompting fears Britain
