LONDON, Oct 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Another 30,301 people in Britain tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 7,871,014, according to official figures released yesterday.
The country also recorded another 121 deaths. The total number of COVID-19 related deaths now stands at 136,910. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test.
There are currently 6,733 patients in hospital with COVID-19.
The data came as Eddie Gray, chair of the British antivirals taskforce, hinted, the country could buy a new pill called molnupiravir, after “very encouraging” clinical trial results found it cut hospitalisations and deaths by half.
“We are involved in looking closely at all options, but we’re really not in a position to give out the details around specific conversations at this moment in time,” said Gray.
U.S. pharmaceutical giant, Merck, and its partner, Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, said, results showed patients who received the drug within five days of displaying COVID symptoms, had half the rate of hospitalisation and death, as those who were given a placebo.
Meanwhile, nearly 90 percent of people aged 16 and over in Britain, had their first dose of vaccine and more than 82 percent have received both doses, latest figures showed.– NNN-AGENCIES
