The UK has recorded the highest daily total of deaths from Covid-19 since March 9. Government figures released today showed a further 223 people died from the virus, bringing the UK total to 138,629.
It comes as Sajid Javid has warned the NHS is under “huge pressure” and that there are “shortages” across the service. The health secretary told MPs it would be a “particularly tough winter” and that more work was needed to avoid a “crisis of misery” for patients.
Mr Javid also announced a “ramping up” of the coronavirus vaccination programme, saying children aged between 12 and 15 would be able to use the national booking service to get their jabs during half-term.
Meanwhile, scientists behind the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine are developing a new jab they hope will counter the highly transmissible Delta variant. The team is working to have “something on the shelf ready to scale up – if it’s needed”.
