Britain on Saturday reported 12 new deaths within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test and a further 7,738 cases of the virus, official government data showed.

That compared to 17 deaths and 8,125 cases reported a day earlier.

On vaccines, a total of 41.29 million people have now received a first dose and 29.5 million have received two shots.

It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson admitted that the rise in daily case numbers and spread of the Delta (Indian) variant has made him less optimistic all coronavirus restrictions will be lifted in England on 21 June.

The Daily Telegraph has reported that the government will delay the lifting of the restrictions by four weeks, which would take the full unlocking to 19 July.

(With input from agencies)