LONDON (Reuters) – Britain reported the lowest daily number of new coronavirus infections since the start of the year on Saturday, adding to signs that a national lockdown is slowing the spread of a more contagious variant of the disease.
However, the effect of the recent rise in the number of cases remains evident in the death toll, the third highest ever recorded. Health experts have warned it must increase further.
Government figures showed that the number of positive test subjects was 41,346, compared to 55,761 on Friday. It was the lowest daily reading since December 27, when fewer people were tested during the festive holiday season.
However, the number of deaths continues to rise rapidly, with another 1,295 reported on Saturday, bringing the total number of recorded fatalities within 28 days of a positive test to 88,590.
Britain has the highest death toll in Europe – although more per capita have died in Italy and Belgium. Chris Witty, the government’s chief medical officer, warned the public on Friday that the daily death rate had not yet been reached.
The country has been under a national lockdown since January 5, when schools were closed to most students, non-essential businesses closed to the public and people were told to work from home whenever possible.
In its latest effort to control infections, the government has ordered all travelers to Britain as of Monday to submit a certificate stating that they do not have coronavirus and that they must be quarantined for 10 days upon arrival.
Britain hopes for a rapid roll-out of vaccines for over-70s and other vulnerable groups. Government data on Saturday showed that nearly 3.6 million people had received a single dose of vaccine, the most in Europe and an increase from 324,000 the day before.
The country aims to have the first doses of vaccines given to 15 million people in risk categories by mid-February.
Reporting by David Milliken; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Mike Harrison