THE UK’s coronavirus demise toll rose by 533 immediately – bringing the grim whole to 62,566.

And the entire variety of constructive circumstances now stands at 1,766,819 as 16,578 new Covid infections have been reported within the final 24 hours.

⚠️ Learn our coronavirus live blog for the newest information & updates

Coronavirus deaths have risen by 533 - just 24 hours after the first vaccine was rolled out in Britain

Coronavirus deaths have risen by 533 – simply 24 hours after the primary vaccine was rolled out in BritainCredit score: AP:Related Press

Yesterday, dubbed V-Day, marked the historic second Britain grew to become the primary nation on this planet to roll out the coronavirus vaccine.

Margaret Keenan, a 90-year-old gran, warmed hearts across the world as she grew to become the primary individual on this planet to have the jab.

Nonetheless – there have been 12,282 new constructive circumstances of the virus throughout the UK yesterday, in addition to 616 extra deaths.

At this time’s 16,578 an infection determine exhibits a 3.9 per cent enhance compared to this time final week – when 16,170 new circumstances have been reported.

Public Well being Wales introduced this afternoon that 2,238 new circumstances of the lethal virus have been recorded within the final 24 hours.

And the nation additionally reported 31 new deaths linked to Covid-19 immediately.

The full variety of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England has risen to 43,248, after 344 died immediately.

Sufferers have been aged between 16 and 100 years previous – and all besides 11 had recognized underlying well being situations.

These with out the underlying well being situations have been aged 51 to 96.

At this time’s figures come as…

An extra 12 individuals have died with Covid-19 in Northern Eire immediately, the Division of Well being mentioned.

A further 482 individuals examined constructive for the virus within the final 24-hour reporting interval.

In the meantime, officers have warned that London must enter into Tier 3 “inside 48 hours” or danger a “horrible scenario” because the capital now has the worst Covid charges within the UK.

Officers worry it’s now too late to show the tide earlier than the capital is locked into tighter restrictions, regardless of the Tier evaluation not being scheduled to happen till December 16.

Professor John Ashton, a former regional director of public well being for north-west England, mentioned: “[The government] must resolve within the subsequent 48 hours whether or not to maneuver London into Tier 3.

“In any other case they actually danger a horrible scenario for London, with deaths going up throughout the Christmas interval.”

He additionally warned: “They may need to go to finish lockdown.”

This comes simply 24 hours after Britain’s hope of a ‘regular’ Spring was revitalised because the Pfizer vaccine was rolled out in hospitals.

Well being Secretary Matt Hancock even shed a tear reside on-air yesterday as he spoke of a “gentle on the finish of the tunnel.”

COVID CHRISTMAS WARNING

He mentioned: “It has been such a tricky yr for therefore many individuals and at last we’ve our approach via it – our gentle on the finish of the tunnel as so many individuals are saying.”

However the excellent news doesn’t imply the battle of the pandemic is over.

This morning, households in Wales have been strongly suggested to cancel their plans for Christmas after a recent surge in coronavirus circumstances have been recorded.

Individuals throughout the 4 nations are set to have restrictions relaxed for 5 days over the festive season, however the Welsh Authorities’s prime scientists warned in opposition to celebrations between totally different households.

Scientists from the Welsh Authorities’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG) delivered a grim warning, saying Christmas dinners or lunches are “prone to result in larger deaths and hospitalisations after Christmas”.

They warned: “If individuals can keep away from seeing others over the Christmas interval, maybe suspending celebrations till later subsequent yr or assembly remotely, then that is strongly suggested.

“Pre-isolation could also be a useful consideration for households with kids earlier than visiting older kin.

“Equally, in occupations the place there’s a larger odds ratio of an infection, pre-isolation earlier than mixing with older adults could cut back the chance of transmission.”