UK Covid cases rise by 161% in a fortnight but deaths stay low thanks to vaccines as Boris prepares to unlock Britain

UK COVID cases have risen by 161 per cent in a fortnight while the death toll remains low with 15 more reported fatalities today.

Thanks to Britain's vaccine rollout, surging cases have not resulted in high death tolls - with Boris Johnson set to announce 'Freedom Day' plans tomorrow.

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Today, 24,248 more Brits tested positive for Covid as the Delta variant continues to spread - while 15 deaths were reported.

The latest figures bring the total death toll in Britain to a grim 128,222.

And the number of people who have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began has now risen to 4,903,434.

On June 20, the daily Covid case figure reached 9,284.

But within just two weeks, that has risen to 24,248 - which is a staggering 161 per cent rise.

Despite rising cases, the Covid death rate remains relatively low - and the number of people being hospitalised for the virus is slowly rising.

This comes as more than half of Brits are now fully protected from Covid after having both of their vaccinations.

The continued success of the UK's world-leading jabs rollout comes as remaining lockdown restrictions are set to lift on 'Freedom Day' later this month.

There were 137,389 first dose Covid vaccinations given out yesterday, with 196,209 second doses administered.

Those figures mean more than half of all Brits have now had two vaccinations.

There have been 33,614,952 second doses of the vaccine given out in total across the UK - more than half of the population.

Meanwhile, 45,274,497 Brits have received their first dose.

It comes as Sajid Javid has vowed to lift the remaining coronavirus restrictions on July 19 , while planning to make Britain the "most open country in Europe".

The Health Secretary said his main challenges as he takes up his new role are how to restore our freedoms and how to tackle the NHS backlog.

Mentioning the sacrifices made by British people during the coronavirus pandemic, he said it is impossible to eliminate the disease completely, so we will need to find ways to cope with it.

The Health Secretary also urged everyone to get their jab as soon as they are offered one, describing the vaccination programme as "the single biggest contribution you can make to this national effort".

Face masks will be a "personal choice" after July 19, a minister has confirmed today - with social distancing and isolation also set to end.

Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick said the data was "looking good" for Covid rules to be rolled back after 'Freedom Day'.

He told Sky News' Trevor Phillips On Sunday: "Like many people, I want to get away from these restrictions as quickly as I possibly can and we don't want them to stay in place for a day longer than is necessary.

"I think we are going to now move into a period where there won't be legal restrictions, the state won't be telling you what to do, but you will want to exercise a degree of personal responsibility and judgment - different people will come to different conclusions on things like masks, for example.

"The Prime Minister will set out more detail on the national policy on some of those restrictions in the coming days.

"But there will be things we all definitely need to do - it will be essential that every adult gets fully vaccinated."