Another 230 people have died with coronavirus in the UK, as the country recorded less than 10,000 new cases for the first time in five months.

A further 9,765 new infections were confirmed in the past 24 hours – the fewest since October 2.

Monday’s figures come the day after the UK recorded its lowest death toll in seven weeks, but today’s figures are even smaller. Some 117,396 people have now died with the virus in the UK since the pandemic began, while 4,047,843 cases have been officially confirmed.

Sunday also saw the country pass the 15 million mark for first doses of vaccinations, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson set to address the country about the rapidly progressing roll out this evening.

Some 237,962 first vaccine doses and 1,915 second jabs were handed out in the last 24 hours – less than half the total seen in previous days. 15.3 million people have now had their first injections and nearly 540,000 have had a second dose.

Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show there have now been 135,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.

Earlier today, NHS England confirmed that a further 231 people who tested positive for Covid-19 had died in the country’s hospitals, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths in the setting to 79,120.

Patients were aged between 31 and 102. All except 12, aged between 53 and 92, had known underlying health conditions.

The deaths took place between December 24 and February 14, with the majority being on or after February 11.

There were 10 other deaths reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.

In Scotland, where First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is confident the vaccine target has also been met, no new Covid-linked deaths were reported.

A total of 559 positive tests were recorded since Sunday, bringing the country’s total since the start of the pandemic to 192,375.

The death toll remains at 6,715 after today’s lack of new deaths – the first time no fatalities have been reported since January 18.

Wales reported another 16 deaths and 363 cases.

It takes the respective totals in the country to 199,518 cases and 5,137 deaths, Public Health Wales said.

A further four people have died after testing positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, meaning exactly 2,000 deaths have now been reported.

Another 234 cases of the virus have also been identified by the Department of Health, taking the total to 109,147.

Meanwhile, passengers were seen arriving at Heathrow Airport today, as the UK began forcing arrivals from some countries to stay at quarantine hotels. However, serious questions were raised about the scheme, with ‘red list’ arrivals allowed to mix with other passengers.

Elsewhere, hopes are growing that schools will be able to return on March 8, in the first easing of lockdown.

More to follow.

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