LONDON: in Britain, another 12,057 people have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of Covid cases in the country to 4,083,242, according to official figures released on Thursday.
The UK also reported another 454 covid-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 119,387, including the toll of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test, Xinhua news agency reported.
The latest figures were revealed as more than 16.4 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine. Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi has said the government would "not rest" until the vaccine was offered to all over-50s by the end of April. Earlier on Thursday, a study showed that the number of people infected with coronavirus in England has dropped by more than two thirds since January, but infections still remain high.
Infections have dec;lined across the country and several areas experienced a substantial decline, including London and the South East, where five times fewer people are now testing positive compared to previous findings in January, according to data from the Real-time Assessment of Community Transmission study of Imperial College London.
But infections are still high with around one in 200 people testing positive, said the study based on swab tests by almost 85,000 people between February 4 and February 13.
England is currently under the third national lockdown since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country. Similar restriction measures are also in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to unveil his "roadmap" out of lockdown on Monday next week.
Over 11K Ebola vaccines expected in Guinea this weekend
UK variant not seen increasing Covid severity, transmission in India: NCDC
