UK records another 46,169 coronavirus cases, 529 deaths

LONDON:Another 46,169 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 3,118,518, according to official figures released Monday.

Another 529 have died within 28 days of a positive test, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain to 81,960, the data showed.

The latest figures were revealed as the British government on Monday published the plan to deliver its coronavirus vaccination program.

According to a government statement, tens of millions of people will be immunized by the spring at over 2,700 vaccination sites across Britain as part of comprehensive plans to rapidly scale up the COVID-19 vaccination program.

The expansion of the program will also mean all adults will be offered a vaccine by the autumn.

The government and the National Health Service (NHS) have also mobilized a workforce of over 80,000 health professionals to help in the delivery of the program across the different vaccination sites, according to the statement.

"Our UK COVID-19 vaccines delivery plan maps our route back to normality, but it does not mean we can be complacent and it is a mission critical that everybody abides by the restrictions in the coming weeks," said Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

"The next few months will present a significant opportunity to turn the tide of battle against COVID -- I am looking forward to watching these plans bring more reassurance and hope back to people's lives after a difficult year," he added.

Earlier Monday, Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty warned that the "most dangerous time" of the coronavirus pandemic in Britain has yet to come before vaccine rollout has an impact.

The next few weeks will be "the worst" of the pandemic for the National Health Service (NHS), he told the BBC, urging the public to minimize all unnecessary contact with others.

England is currently under the third national lockdown since the pandemic began in the country. As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in some countries with the already-authorized coronavirus vaccines.

Meanwhile, 235 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 63 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain and the United States, according to information released by the World Health Organization on Jan. 6.