UK Covid cases creep back up to 27,734 but deaths fall

The UK recorded 27,734 new Covid cases on Wednesday, up from Tuesday, and the first time cases have increased in a week.

It comes as the number of deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test fell to 91 which is a drop after Tuesday’s figure of 131.

The current UK total of Covid deaths is now 129,430 people.

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have been 154,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid was mentioned on the death certificate.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who has previously warned that there could be 100,000 daily cases over the summer, said he hoped recent falls in the numbers would be sustained but it was important not to be “too optimistic”.

Speaking at a vaccination centre in London’s Little Venice, he told the PA news agency: “The truth is, when it comes to case numbers no-one really knows where they are going to go next.

“I hope that the falls that we’re seeing now are sustained. That’s of course what I want to see.

“But we’ve already seen with the Delta variant, a new variant that emerged over the last year, that’s more infectious than the previous one, that things can change.

“And so, I think it’s important to remain cautious, not get too optimistic.”

Government data up to July 27 also shows that of the 84,300,153 Covid jabs given in the UK, including 46,689,242 first doses, a rise of 35,446 on the previous day.

Some 37,610,911 were second doses, an increase of 151,851.

It comes as ministers agreed that England will open its borders to allow US and EU travellers who are fully vaccinated against coronavirus to enter without the need to quarantine from August 2.

Double-jabbed UK travellers do not have to isolate on their return from amber list countries with the exception of France.

Now it has been confirmed US and EU travellers who have had both vaccinations can enjoy quarantine-free travel to the UK.

The decision was made after a meeting of the Government’s Covid Operations committee on Wednesday.

However, US travellers have been advised not to travel to the UK by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The US border also remains closed to UK travellers.