UK

The UK has reported 24,950 new cases of COVID-19 in the latest 24-hour period.

It means the number of COVID cases reported in the UK has fallen for the sixth consecutive day.

Fourteen deaths were reported during the same period.

Some 29,173 cases and 28 deaths were reported yesterday. Last Monday, 39,950 cases and 72 deaths were recorded.

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There are growing concerns that the vaccination programme has stalled among young people, with figures reported in The Times showing that a third of those aged 18 to 29 have not had their first dose.

Fewer than 60% of those aged 18 to 25 have had their first jab and the number of COVID-19 cases among those aged 16 to 24 is six times higher than among those aged 50 to 69.

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Earlier, a YouGov poll was published showing that the use of face masks among young people had slumped since England’s restrictions were ended a week ago.

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The survey found 46% of 18 to 24-year-olds said they wore a face mask in a public place in the last two weeks, compared to 58% on 16 July and 64% on 2 June.

The survey of 1,742 British adults between July 21 and 22 found the rate of face mask use in other age groups had changed very little: 69% of Britons said they wore a face mask in the last two weeks, compared to 71% on 16 July and 73% on 2 June.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that university students could need to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus to attend lectures and stay in halls this coming academic year.

“We aren’t ruling it out,” a senior government source told Sky News about the prospect of mandating vaccination passports for universities.