UK COVID deaths have more than halved in a fortnight with 23 fatalities and 2,472 cases reported today.

Last Tuesday, which fell after the Easter Bank Holiday, saw 2,374 new infections and 20 deaths, with 4,033 coronavirus cases and 50 deaths recorded on the previous Tuesday.

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The latest data brings the total number of UK cases since the beginning of the pandemic to 4,375,814.

The UK death toll now stands at 127,123.

A whopping 40,107,877 doses of the Covid vaccine have now been administered in the UK.

This includes 32,250,481 first doses and 7,857,396 second doses.

It comes as:

• Surge testing was launched in another two London boroughs after more South Africa variants were discovered
• Thirsty Brits celebrate pubs reopening as they danced into the night in their first post-work pints in months
• The NHS website crashed after over-45s were told today that they can book Covid vaccines
• Everyone over 50, NHS staff and carers have all been offered a vaccine, ministers revealed
• Rush to vaccinate over-40s as lockdown eases and UK braces for Covid surge in young
• Johnson & Johnson delays rollout of single-dose Covid vaccine in EU over rare blood clot fears

It comes as anyone aged 45 or over can now book a vaccine appointment through the NHS website after Phase 1 of the vaccine programme was completed three days early.

Brits have this week flocked to pubs, shops, hairdressers and gyms after they opened for the first time since January as Covid restrictions eased.

But Boris Johnson warned today that the falling Covid deaths are thanks to Britain's lockdown NOT the vaccine.

The PM claimed that "the bulk of the work" was done by people staying inside and not Britain's world leading jab rollout.

Speaking to reporters this morning, Boris warned that cases would go up and urged the nation to continue to be cautious as they head back to the pub.

He said today: "Clearly everybody was able yesterday to go to the pub, to go shopping, get a haircut and so on, that's great.

"The numbers are down, infections, hospitalisations and deaths."

But he warned: "It's very important for everyone to understand the reduction in these numbers in deaths and infections has not been achieved by the vaccination programme.

"It's the lockdown which has [been] delivering this improvement in the pandemic and the figures we are seeing."

This week's vaccination rollout to under-50s marks the start of Phase 2 of the government's vaccination programme, with the PM hailing it as a "hugely significant milestone".

It's very important for everyone to understand the reduction in these numbers in deaths and infections has not been achieved by the vaccination programme

The government reached its target of offering a first dose to priority groups in the over-50s three days early.

Meanwhile, NHS patients are set to receive the Moderna vaccine imminently as the Government begins its next phase of the jab rollout.

The vaccine will be the third Covid jab to be dished out in Britain and will be available at 21 sites in England, officials confirmed.

Professor Stephen Powis, medical director for NHS England, said its “marks another milestone” in the country’s battle against Covid.

Moderna offers an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for under-30s after concerns about a possible link to very rare blood clots.

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