A further 112 people have died of coronavirus in the UK in a 50% drop on two weeks ago.
Today's death figures are less than half that of the 231 people who lost their lives to Covid-19 on March 9, but two more than last Tuesday.
On this date a year ago, when the first national lockdown began, 76 people died - the last time daily deaths were not in the hundreds for more than two months.
Yesterday 17 Covid patient deaths were recorded, the lowest daily increase in six months.
It was the smallest jump in fatalities since September 28, when the same number of deaths was recorded.
Earlier today it was reported that the number of people dying in the UK has dropped below average for the first time in six months.
The encouraging figures come as Covid-19 fatalities fell by 29 per cent in a week in England and Wales - with sharp drops in all regions.
A total of 1,501 death certificates mentioned Covid-19 in the week to March 12 - a drop of 604 compared to the previous week, a report by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals.
The number of deaths from all causes registered in the UK that week was 12,465 - 605 lower than the five-year average.
It is the first time since the week ending September 4 that the number of people dying has been lower than normal.
While the death statistics are encouraging at the moment, an surge in cases could see the country get off this encouraging track.
Yesterday the Prime Minister said he expected the wave being seen across Europe to "wash up on our shores as well".
Speaking to broadcasters in Preston, Boris Johnson said: "I've talked to our (European) friends repeatedly over the period - we're all facing the same pandemic, we all have the same problems.
"If there is one thing that is worth stressing is that on the continent right now you can see sadly there is a third wave under way.
"People in this country should be under no illusions that previous experience has taught us that when a wave hits our friends, it washes up on our shores as well.
"I expect that we will feel those effects in due course.
"That's why we're getting on with our vaccination programme as fast as we can but a vaccination campaign and developing vaccines, rolling them out - these are international projects and they require international co-operation."
