COVID-19: UK records another 7,742 coronavirus cases and three deaths
Monday 14 June 2021 18:39, UK
The UK has recorded another 7,742 COVID cases and three deaths.
The number of coronavirus cases is up on the 7,490 recorded yesterday - the sixth day in row that new infection numbers have exceeded 7,000.
However the number of deaths within 28 days of a positive test is down on the eight reported on Sunday.
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Last Monday, the UK recorded 5,683 coronavirus cases and one additional death.
On COVID vaccinations, a further 147,228 first doses were administered on Sunday, along with 181,121 second jabs.
The total number of people who have had at least one vaccine dose now stands at 41,698,429 - 79.2% of adults, while 29,973,779 people have had two jabs, which is 56.9% of UK adults.
The latest figures come as Boris Johnson announced a delay of four weeks in lifting lockdown restrictions in England.
The PM said the postponement of step four of the government's roadmap, which was due to take place on 21 June, will allow for more people to receive their second jab before further easing of restrictions takes place - building up a "wall of immunity".
The extension will be reviewed to see if action can be taken two weeks sooner on Monday 5 July.
Mark Harper, chairman of the COVID Recovery Group of Tory MPs, said he feared lockdown could be extended until at least the end of September if ministers attempt to wait until the whole population has been double-jabbed.
"We have a rapid rollout of effective vaccines and are heading into summer," he tweeted. "If, even at this point, the government won't release restrictions, this points to restrictions in the autumn and winter, when respiratory diseases increase and the NHS is always under more pressure.
"This would be devastating for business confidence, people's livelihoods and wellbeing."
New data reported on Monday suggests the risk of being hospitalised with the Delta (Indian) variant of coronavirus is around double that of the Alpha (Kent) strain, but two vaccine doses still provide strong protection against it.
However, the level of protection against the Indian variant of COVID-19 may be lower than with the Kent variant, early research published in The Lancet suggested.