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Britain has reported 53,135 new Covid-19 cases for the day, the highest number since mass testing began in mid-2020 and a large increase from the previous record of 41,385 set on Monday.
A pedestrian wearing a mask passes a sign alerting people that Covid-19 cases are very high in London on December 23, 2020.
Photo: AFP / Tolga Akmen
The number of new deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive Covid test also rose to 414 from 357 on Monday, bringing the total since the start of the pandemic to 71,567.
Britain competes with Italy for the highest death toll from the disease in Europe and is now battling a new variant of Covid that scientists say may spread more rapidly.
“We continue to see unprecedented levels of Covid-19 infection across the UK, which is of extreme concern, especially as our hospitals are the most vulnerable,” said Susan Hopkins, Senior Medical Adviser at Public Health England.
Hopkins said part of the daily increase in cases reflected reporting delays due to Christmas, but the numbers were “largely a reflection of a real increase.”
Health Minister Matt Hancock will give an update on regional coronavirus restrictions on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, a leading epidemiologist advising the government, Andrew Hayward, warned that Britain is headed for “catastrophe” in the coming weeks if it does not take tougher action against the most infectious variant of the disease.
Just under half of England’s population, centered in London and neighboring regions, is currently under the strictest form of Covid restriction. Under these rules, nonessential stores and most other businesses are closed to the public, and almost all face-to-face socializing is prohibited.
However, in most of Britain the rules were relaxed to allow families to reunite on Christmas Day, which according to many health officials ran the risk of causing an increase in Covid infections.
-Reuters
