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London, December 6: Another 15,539 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 1,705,971, according to official figures.
Coronavirus-related deaths in Britain rose by 397 to 61,014, the data showed on Saturday, the Xinhua news agency reported.
The figures came as Britain’s medical directors warned on Saturday that the upcoming winter would be “especially tough” for the health service due to the coronavirus, despite hopes raised by vaccines.
“Although the very welcome news about vaccines means that we can look to 2021 with greater optimism, the deployment of the vaccine will only have a marginal impact on reducing the number of people entering the health service with COVID over the next three months. “The chief medical officer for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland said in a letter to colleagues.
Experts urged the public to show restraint and self-discipline, especially in the run-up to Christmas.
England is currently under a new three-tier coronavirus restriction system that replaced the month-long national lockdown on England that ended on Wednesday.
Under the new system, stores will be allowed to reopen in England, giving a Christmas bonanza to the struggling retail sector, but all bars and restaurants in the toughest Level 3 areas will remain closed. The system placed roughly 98 percent of England in Tier 2 and Tier 3 highest.
However, between December 23 and 27, up to three different households can meet in a private home, a place of worship, or public outdoor spaces.
To return life to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the United States are racing against time to develop vaccines against the coronavirus.
Disclaimer: This story is automatically generated from the IANS service.
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