A further 145 people have died of Covid-19 in the UK, as both weekly deaths and cases fall.
Today another 42,408 cases were recorded by the government, the highest daily total this month and the most since October 29, when 43,467 were logged.
However, the weekly infections total of 248,549 and death toll of 1,090 are down 6% and 9% compared to the week before.
The killer virus claimed the lives of 195 more people on Thursday, 19 fewer than seven days previously.
In terms of vaccinations, 36,383 had the first jab, 22,485 the second and 370,989 and third today.
It is unclear whether the coronavirus situation is improving or getting worse at the moment, as case and death numbers have remained relatively steady over the past couple of weeks.
Covid deaths remain at their highest consistent level since the Spring, while infections are among the highest in Europe, but roughly a fifth lower than they were a month ago.
The government is pushing the 25% of the population who are unjabbed to get the vaccine, in the hope of getting case and death figures down.
It has decided to do this by requiring all care staff and health workers to get the vaccine, or face losing their jobs.
When person who has decided to do the latter is Ann Rick, who says working in a care home had become ‘her life’.
The receptionist and support worker at Moston Grange Care Home knew every resident by name, connected with their families and was fiercely proud that she was ‘making a real difference’.
Like thousands of care workers across the country, Ann worked over-time during the worst days of the pandemic to support residents, several of whom sadly lost their lives before the jab roll-out.
Yet however passionately Ann felt about the role, her aversion to the Covid-19 jab - and the Government's strict rule that all workers must be double-jabbed by Thursday - has proven stronger.
After refusing the jab, Ann was told she would be dismissed on the November 11 deadline, but quit instead after finding a new job with an energy firm - and taking a £600 monthly pay hit.
"I'm devastated," said Ann, 55, from Bury.
"I loved making a difference to people’s lives. That’s what made the job so rewarding and now I can never do it again."
She added "But I’ve never had a vaccine for anything and I don’t want to have one now.
“The vaccine is still in a trial period, it’s too soon. I’m not a conspiracy theorist. It’s about freedom of choice. My situation is different to the next person and I think I should be allowed to make a decision.
“They said they were giving a choice. Tea or coffee is a choice.
"Vegetarian or meat is a choice. Jab or no jab is a threat.
“I wasn't saying I'd never have the vaccine, just that it’s still in trial at the moment and that it shouldn’t be mandatory.
“This is the thanks we get because we won’t have a substance injected into our bodies.”
The emotional strain put on care home bosses, who are required to get rid of their staff, has also been significant.
Theresa Ingram-Gettins, who manages Boldmere Court care home in Sutton Coldfield, has revealed she’s also had to suspend a further six workers – placing a huge strain on her remaining members of staff.
Speaking to ITV, she said she feared those departing would be ‘put into poverty.’
