England could go into lockdown AGAIN if deadly Covid variants emerge

BORIS Johnson yesterday refused to rule out further lockdowns if more deadly Covid variants emerge.

The PM downplayed the chances of imposing them but said: “It would be irresponsible of any leader in any democracy to rule out something that saves lives.”

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Covid hospital admission rates for England hit 20.5 per 100,000 people in the week ending April 3.

They are now at a higher rate than at the peak of the Omicron wave at the start of January.

There is hope rates are beginning to plateau. A further 41,384 people tested positive for the bug today - down 40 per cent on last week.

Vaccines will continue to protect people from severe illness and over a million people have now received a spring booster, just two weeks since the latest phase of the campaign was launched.

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The NHS is continuing to urge people to come forward for a fourth dose when they become eligible, with 570,000 more set to be invited next week.

The R rate in the UK currently sits between 1.1 and 1.2.

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