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The UK has reported another 1,239 COVID-related deaths and 28,680 new cases of the virus.
The latest government figures also reveal that 7.45 million people have received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
COVID-19 cases were down by nearly 10,000 a week ago, with 37,892 reported last Thursday.
Slightly fewer deaths related to the virus were recorded today, just 51 fewer than a week ago.
Today’s figures bring the UK total to 103,126 deaths since the start of the pandemic and 3,743,734 confirmed cases.
Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world
The government is now almost halfway to reaching its vaccine target of 15 million first doses by mid-February.
This would mean that everyone in the four highest priority groups has a basic level of protection against the virus.
Those groups are:
- Nursing home staff and workers
- Seniors over 80 and frontline health and social care workers
- Over 75
- Older than 70 years and clinically extremely vulnerable, excluding pregnant women and children under 16 years of age
The government has also promised that all UK adults will be offered a vaccine by the fall.
It comes in the middle of a row between leaders and pharmaceutical companies due to delays in the launch of vaccines.
The EU has accused AstraZeneca of an “unacceptable” shortfall in shipments after the company said it could only supply 40% of the doses it promised to the bloc.
Pfizer also warned of delays as it ramps up production at its European factories, but UK ministers insist this will not affect its ability to meet targets.
However, the EU has threatened to impose strict controls on all coronavirus vaccines produced within the bloc, which would affect both Pfizer and AstraZeneca supplies.
Over three nights, Sky News will host a series of special programs examining the UK’s response to the pandemic.
Watch COVID Crisis: Learning the Lessons at 8 pm on February 9, 10 and 11
