Britain’s daily COVID cases hit 9,000 for the first time since February

Britain today recorded 9,000 daily Covid cases for the first time since February as the Indian variant continues to spread widely across the country.

Department of Health bosses posted 9,055 positive tests across the UK — up by a fifth on last Wednesday’s count. It is the highest toll since February 25, when 9,985 infections were registered.

Hospitalisations have also risen by 40 per cent in the space of a week in a clear sign that the rapid spread of the mutant strain has started to increase pressure on hospitals despite the success of the vaccination drive. Health officials recorded 173 admissions on June 12, the most recent day figures are available for. For comparison, the figure the previous Saturday was 123.

Despite the uptick in the number of infected patients needing NHS care, deaths remain flat. Another nine victims were added to the official fatality toll today, up from six last week — but the overall daily average for the past week has remained in single figures.

But in a glimmer of hope the fast-spreading strain won’t force ministers into delaying Freedom Day again, figures also show Covid outbreaks appear to be flat or falling in Bolton, Blackburn and other areas that were the first to be hit by the Indian Delta variant.

Fears are growing, however, that a shortage of jabs may force No10 to push back the final unlocking once again, with the pace of the roll-out having already slowed to around 450,000 a day — half of the speed seen during the best days of the programme.

Ministers have conceded supply of Pfizer’s jab is ‘tight’ while Moderna’s is also limited, and regulators have advised under-40s are not given the British-made AstraZeneca jab – the only other one available – because of its rare links to fatal blood clots, massively increasing demand for the other two options.

Boris Johnson stressed the urgent need to inoculate as many people as possible to finally end restrictions on July 19, insisting the four-week delay gave the NHS ‘more crucial weeks’ to protect Britons from the Indian variant.

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