UK records another 10,625 coronavirus cases, 799 deaths

Another 10,625 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,058,468, according to official figures released Tuesday, reported Xinhua.

The country also reported another 799 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 118,195. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test.

The latest figures were revealed as more than 15.5 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine.

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi has said the government would "not rest" until the vaccine was offered to all over-50s by the end of April. Britain aims to offer all adults their first dose by autumn.

Also on Tuesday, the British Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the weekly number of coronavirus-related deaths in England and Wales had fallen for the first time since Christmas.

In the week ending Feb. 5, there were 7,320 fatalities where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, declining by 13 percent from 8,433 deaths the previous week, according to the ONS.

England is currently under the third national lockdown since outbreak of the pandemic in the country. Similar restriction measures are also in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to unveil his roadmap for exiting the lockdown on Feb. 22. He has said he hopes to begin reopening schools in England from March 8 as part of the plan.

Meanwhile, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed Tuesday that the phased return of pupils to classrooms in Scotland will begin on Monday.

To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the United States have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines.