A further 41,278 coronavirus cases and 166 related deaths have been reported in the UK, the latest government figures show.<\/p>\n
It compares with yesterday's figures when 43,467 positive COVID-19 infections and a further 186 deaths were logged, and this time last week, when 44,985 cases and 134 fatalities were recorded.<\/p>\n
A total of 49,922,090 first doses of a coronavirus vaccine have been administered in the UK, while 45,672,948 second doses have been given.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the latest data shows that 7,564,463 booster jabs, or third doses of a coronavirus vaccine, have been administered so far.<\/p>\n
The total number of COVID vaccine doses administered in the UK now stands at 103,159,461.<\/p>\n
The latest figures come as coronavirus infections in England have increased to their highest level since the beginning of the year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).<\/p>\n
Around one in 50 people had the virus in the week ending 22 October - the highest level since 2 January, the body reported.<\/p>\n
Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker<\/p>\n
That is the same proportion of people who were estimated to have coronavirus at the peak of the second wave in early January.<\/p>\n
The weekly R - or reproductive - number in England is estimated to have risen to between 1.1 and 1.3 - with the number of COVID infections in the country now at its highest level since January.<\/p>\n
The pandemic appears to be growing in England, as the R figure was estimated to be between 1.0 and 1.2 last week.<\/p>\n
The R number indicates the average number of people each COVID-positive person goes on to infect.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, the ONS also said this week that the percentage of people testing positive remains highest for those in school years 7 to 11, at 9.1%.<\/p>\n
Hospital admissions and deaths remain well below levels seen during the second wave in January, despite the prevalence of COVID-19 across the four nations.<\/p>\n
Government data on Friday showed that over seven million of the UK's most vulnerable people had so far received their COVID-19 booster jab - with more than two million being administered in the last seven days alone.<\/p>\n
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<\/p>\n
Health Secretary Sajid Javid has urged people to get their booster jab as the colder weather usually leads to increased transmission of viruses and will be challenging for the NHS.<\/p>\n
\"Our life-saving booster vaccines are ensuring millions are protected over the winter - and it's fantastic that more than seven million people have now received their third jab,\" he said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Here is the original post:<\/p>\n
COVID-19: UK records another 41,278 coronavirus cases and 166 related deaths - Sky News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A further 41,278 coronavirus cases and 166 related deaths have been reported in the UK, the latest government figures show. It compares with yesterday's figures when 43,467 positive COVID-19 infections and a further 186 deaths were logged, and this time last week, when 44,985 cases and 134 fatalities were recorded. Continue reading