UK Covid deaths drop 90 per cent in a month with 26 new fatalities and 2,762 new cases

THE number of people losing their lives to Covid in the UK has dropped almost 90 per cent in just a month as another 26 deaths were recorded.

Meanwhile, numbers of those newly-diagnosed with the deadly bug have plunged 53 per cent per cent month-on-month.

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On March 5, 5,947 new cases and 236 deaths were recorded. But both positive tests and the number of casualties dying of the virus have since plunged.

On both Saturday and Sunday, 10 coronavirus deaths were recorded - the lowest daily tolls since September 14.

And yesterday's new cases - 2,297 - is the lowest number recorded since last summer.

By comparison, more than 1,000 people died of Covid on average each day in January, making it the deadliest month of the pandemic so far for Britain.

In England, another 15 people who had tested positive for the deadly bug died.

Patients were aged between 51 and 90, and all had known underlying health conditions.

Five people lost their lives in the North East and Yorkshire, while three people died in the South East and two fatalities were recorded in both London and the Midlands.

Two more deaths were also recorded in the North West, and one person died in the East of England.

The South West recorded no new deaths.

No new deaths were recorded in Scotland, while eight people died in Wales.

It comes as...

• Brits will offered two free Covid tests a week as a new single-shot jab looks set to save foreign holidays
• Boris Johnson prepares to make four big lockdown announcements today
• Covid deaths halve in a week while cases are the lowest they've been since last August
• British clubbers will hit the dance floor as part of a new trial next week
• There are hopes for holidays in Turkey, Cyprus, Greece and the Caribbean this summer

As cases continue to drop, Boris Johnson is preparing to address Brits on the next steps to freedom.

The next stage of unlocking is due to take place on April 12, when non-essential shops and hairdressers will be able to open their doors.

Pubs and restaurants with outdoor space will also be able to open to punters.

But more big changes are set to be announced too.

Would-be world travellers are keeping their fingers crossed that a timetable will be set for holidays abroad.

There's renewed hope for summer hols after the Government announced overnight that everyone in England will be offered free rapid Covid tests twice a week.

It's hoped the tests will allow Brits to get back into offices, as well as enjoying their leisure time without worry.

Elsewhere, the PM is expected to shed light on the new traffic light system.

Summer holiday hotspots will be ranked under the lights system — letting Brits fly to "green" countries with low Covid rates and strong vaccine rollouts.

The move will see Bahrain, Dubai, Iceland, the Maldives and the US top destination wish lists, but nations with high virus cases and slow jab rollouts will require more quarantining.

And there's big news for pubs today after it was revealed every pub-goer must check-in with the NHS Covid app to get a pint from April 12.

Under the new rules, all punters must be contact-traced via the app or by giving their contact details when a group enters a pub or restaurant.

All drinkers must scan their NHS app when they go to a boozer, which means it'll be possible to tell them to book a test immediately if they sit near someone who has Covid.

The PM has ditched hates rules like the 10pm curfew and the facial substantial meal requirement that saw diners forced to order Scotch eggs and bowls of chips with their pints.

But social distancing measures will still have to remain in place, meaning pubs will be table service only and groups will be capped at a maximum of six people.

Meanwhile, it's been revealed Britain now has one of the lowest Covid death rates in Europe - while the number of people dying of all causes is at its lowest level since 2014, in spite of the pandemic.

Mocked as 'the sick man of Europe' as coronavirus took hold last year, the dazzling success of the UK's jab's roll-out, combined with a tough lockdown - one of the strictest in the world - has forced down fatalities.

In weekly figures to April 4, Britain recorded four deaths per million people - making it the fourth-lowest for fatalities in Europe, behind Norway, Denmark and Portugal.

But the situation is far bleaker in Europe, which has been badly affected by a bungled jabs roll-out.

Hungary is currently the worst-hit country in Europe with 180 deaths per million people. It also has the highest number of cases per million - 5,395, as compared to Britain's 395.

CASES SURGE IN EUROPE AS BRITS LONG FOR HOLS

Worst affected for rising cases is Denmark, with a whopping 111.5 per cent surge - although the country is still recording some of the lowest overall rates in Europe.

Despite the UK's success, there's still reason for caution.

Of 315 areas of England, 111 - or 35 per cent - have seen a rise in case rates, while 198 - 63 per cent - have seen a fall and six are unchanged.

Corby in Northamptonshire continues to have the highest rate in England, with 164 new cases recorded in the seven days to March 28, the equivalent of 227.1 cases per 100,000 people.

That's up from 198.0 per 100,000 in the seven days to March 21.

Rotherham has the second highest rate, up from 141.3 to 172.2, with 457 new cases.

North Warwickshire has the third highest rate, up from 78.1 to 167.0, with 109 new cases.