Zero Covid Deaths In The UK

First Time Since March 2020...Proof vaccine is doing its job as virus infections surge by 3,165. HAVE WE BROKEN GRIP OF COVID? Zero deaths but Freedom Day still in doubt

- Ben Glaze

THE UK last night recorded zero Covid deaths for the first time in the pandemic.

It boosted hopes vaccines are preventing fatalities and illness.

But cases soared by 3,165, amid growing calls for Freedom Day on June 21 to be delayed due to the Indian variant.

One expert said: “It may be a bad decision to go with it.”

AFTER more than a year of depressing daily deaths reports, last night’s zero figure boosted hopes vaccines may finally be helping to beat the pandemic.

For the first time since the Covid crisis that shattered our lives began, nobody died from the virus over a 24-hour period.

But experts warned the soaring number of cases involving the Indian variant means we are not out of the woods yet and there were fears the total relaxation of restrictions on June 21 could be scuppered.

While the bank holiday weekend could mean death figures are subject to a time lag, the seven-day rolling average showed a 10.4% fall from 48 to 43.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “The whole country will be so glad there were no Covid-related deaths recorded yesterday. The vaccines are clearly working, protecting you and those around you. But despite this undoubtedly good news we know we haven’t beaten this virus yet.”

There was an increase in Covid cases, with another 3,165 positive tests reported yesterday.

Boris Johnson was still insisting Freedom Day on June 21 would go ahead. But scientists urged caution and called for a delay to lifting all curbs in England – as Nicola Sturgeon ordered a halt to easing in Scotland.