The UK's coronavirus hospital death toll has risen by 513 - the lowest increase on a Saturday for six weeks. England reported 436 new fatalities, Scotland had 45, Wales recorded 22, and Northern Ireland had 10.
It is the lowest increase on a Saturday since 479 deaths were reported on January 2, and it is a decline of 45 per cent compared with the most deaths on a Saturday (926 on January 16).
The tolls announced on recent Saturdays were 675 on February 6, 787 on January 30, 825 on January 23, 926 on January 16, and 789 on January 9.
The latest figures were announced as the UK neared the 15 million mark for first dose Covid vaccinations, and surge testing was announced for three new areas after new cases of the more infectious South