The UK has recorded 26,628 new COVID cases and 185 more coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period, according to government data.
The figures compare with 30,825 infections and 61 fatalities reported yesterday, while 37,489 cases and 209 deaths were announced this time last week.
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Meanwhile, another 19,428 people had their first coronavirus vaccine dose on Monday, taking the total to 48,458,700 (89.2% of over-16s in the UK).
And 60,653 people had their second jab, meaning 44,108,746 are now fully vaccinated (81.2% of over-16s).
Since the pandemic began early last year, 134,446 people have died in the UK within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test, and there have been 7,282,810 lab-confirmed infections.
It comes as the government revealed that lockdowns, mandatory face masks, vaccine certificates and working from home could return this winter as part of a “plan B” should the situation with the pandemic start to deteriorate.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the measures could be introduced in England in the coming months if the NHS looks like it will come under “unsustainable pressure”.
The prime minister’s spokesman said Boris Johnson has “stressed his desire to see us continue to bolster our vaccine programme as the first line of defence, supported by testing, public health advice and a variant surveillance system”.
Booster vaccine doses will be offered to people aged 50 and over, those in care homes, frontline health and social workers, and vulnerable people aged over 16, it has been announced.
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The Pfizer and Moderna shots are preferred, according to advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), and a third dose should not be administered until six months after the second.
It comes after the governments of Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the UK said they would be offering the vaccine to all children aged 12 to 15, following the advice from the UK’s chief medical officers.
