Vaccinations against coronavirus are to be ramped in England up as mass injection centres open but pleas have been made to the public to stick to the lockdown rules to prevent avoidable deaths.
All four nations of the UK are facing dire warnings, with high levels of infection and hospitals struggling under the strain.
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock has warned that when it comes to the current measures "every flexibility can be fatal".
His words followed those of England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty who said the only way to prevent avoidable deaths is to stay at home wherever possible as the NHS faces the "most dangerous situation" in living memory.