The figure compares with 20 deaths reported exactly a week ago. Sixty-two deaths have been recorded over the past seven days - 24 fewer than the previous week.
Meanwhile, the country’s coronavirus caseload has risen beyond 4,450,000 with another 2,412 infections reported on Tuesday.
It was also announced that another 106,733 people have received a Covid vaccine first dose, with 259,049 second jabs being given out. Almost 57.4 million vaccines have been administered in the UK since the rollout began in December.
Amid growing fears that the Indian variant could fuel a third wave in Britain, he urged: “When you get the call, get the jab.”
On a visit to the London Business Design Centre’s vaccination facility in central London, he added: “Vaccines are the best way to protect people from the virus. They have already saved thousands of lives and they will continue to do so.”
Invitations are now going out to 37-year-olds to get the first dose. Earlier, Mr Johnson chaired Cabinet as the Government was urged to “throw the kitchen sink” at hotspots of the Indian B1.617.2 variant including Bolton, Bedford and Blackburn.
George Eustice gave the Government’s most explicit warning yet that some form of the Tier system could be resurrected.
He said the Government wanted the complete lifting of restrictions to go ahead on June 21 but added: “We cannot rule anything out and that is why the Prime Minister said we will take this step at a time.”
