The UK has recorded 29,612 new COVID-19 cases and 104 more coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period, according to the latest government figures.
The figures compare to 23,510 infections and 146 coronavirus-related fatalities reported on Tuesday – the highest number of daily COVID-19 deaths since 12 March, when 175 were recorded.
Last Wednesday, there were 29,312 cases and 119 deaths.
Meanwhile, 37,511 people had their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine – taking the total to 47,129,400 (89.1% of the adult population).
And 151,143 were jabbed for the second time, meaning 39,839,709 people (75.3%) have received both doses of a coronavirus vaccine.
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Health Secretary Sajid Javid said plans are under way for autumn booster jabs, although Professor Adam Finn, of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, indicated they would be for a relatively small number of people.
“We’ve been asked to advise as to who might receive a booster if it proves necessary to give boosters,” he told BBC Breakfast.
“I think it’s becoming quite clear that there are a small group of people whose immune responses to the first two doses are likely to be inadequate – people who’ve got immunosuppression of one kind or another, perhaps because they’ve got immunodeficiency or they’ve been receiving treatment for cancer or bone marrow transplants or organ transplants, that kind of thing.”
Prof Finn also said the reason the vaccine rollout has been extended to 16 and 17-year-olds is because of a small number of serious cases in the age group.
On Tuesday night, NHS workers and their families were treated to a free concert at the O2 Arena in London as Gorillaz returned to the stage.
The band performed their first gig in front of a live audience since October 2018 and the O2’s first full capacity live event since March 2020.
The O2 Arena was full for the first time as Gorillaz hosted a free gig for NHS workers and their families on Tuesday night. Pic: Luke Dyson
Concert-goers were required to show a negative COVID-19 test to attend.
Gorillaz celebrated their more than 20-year career with a setlist spanning their seven albums and invited The Cure’s Robert Smith, former Joy Division and New Order star Peter Hook, rapper Slowthai, and Shaun Ryder of the Happy Mondays on stage.
Meanwhile, Facebook has removed hundreds of accounts linked to a COVID-19 vaccine disinformation network operating out of Russia.
Advertising agency Fazze sought to pay social media influencers to repost misleading content about the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccine, including one claim that the AstraZeneca jab would turn a person into a chimpanzee.
The plot was uncovered after influencers in France and Germany exposed offers they had been sent and 65 Facebook profiles and 243 Instagram accounts were banned after being traced back to Fazze.