UK Reports Zero COVID-19 Deaths, Experts Warn Of Third Wave

Illustration of COVID-19. (Wikimedia Commons/Anna Psiaki)

JAKARTA - For the first time since July 2020, the UK did not report a daily death from COVID-19 on Tuesday 1 June. While the day before, the UK had reported only one daily death from COVID-19.

The good news was greeted enthusiastically but did not reduce the vigilance of the British authorities. However, the death toll from COVID-19 in the UK is still the fifth-largest in the world with a record 127,782 deaths, or the worst in Europe.

"The whole country would be very pleased that there were no COVID-19 related deaths recorded yesterday," UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in a statement, adding to the benefits of a COVID-19 vaccination.

"But despite this undoubtedly good news, we know we haven't beaten this virus, and with cases continuing to rise, please remember your hands, face, space, and let fresh air in while indoors. And of course, make sure when You can get the full COVID-19 vaccine."

While the zero-death milestone would be welcome, British scientists have again warned of the danger of a new wave of COVID-19 infections caused by the Delta variant which was first identified in India.

Together with senior government advisers, scientists are urging caution regarding a target to end all COVID-19 restrictions in the UK by June 21, reports The Guardian.

"I hope the UK is not in the stage of entering the third wave of COVID-19, but it's not impossible," said the government's former chief scientific adviser Prof Sir Mark Walport on Tuesday.

The day before, Prof Ravi Gupta, a member of the New and Evolving Respiratory Virus Threat Advisory Group (Nervtag) said there had been 'exponential growth' in new cases, with the variant being the first to be detected in India.