UK records the largest increase in cases, as 12,872 people test positive

The UK has seen a large increase in the number of coronavirus cases, with another 12,872 positive tests reported in the last 24 hours.

Today’s figure is nearly double the previous record for the number of cases recorded in a single day, bringing the total to 480,017.

The nearly 13,000 new cases reported today are compared to yesterday’s 6,968 positive tests and 6,042 recorded last Saturday. The previous highest figure for a single day since the start of the pandemic was 7,143.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Assistance said that a technical problem, which has now been resolved, had caused a delay in the publication of “several cases” between September 24 and October 1.

This means that the total reported today and in the coming days will include additional cases that have not yet been registered, which means that the number of cases being announced is likely to be greater than the actual daily figure.

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The spokesperson added: “This issue does not affect people who receive Covid-19 test results; all people who tested positive have received Covid-19 test result in the normal way.”

Another 49 people who tested positive for the virus in the past 28 days have died, according to the latest figures. This brings the total official death toll since the start of the pandemic to 42,317.

Government data includes deaths in all settings, such as nursing homes and the community at large.

NHS England has also released daily figures showing another 42 deaths recorded in hospitals. Almost half of these came in the Northwest, where there are some of the strictest rules on coronavirus.

The patients were between 44 and 100 years old. Three patients, ages 49 to 82, had no underlying health problems. The deaths occurred between August 8 and October 2.

Four more deaths from coronavirus have also been reported in Scotland, as the number of cases increased by 764.

Figures from the Scottish government also show that 191 people are hospitalized with recently confirmed Covid-19. Of these, 23 are in intensive care.

Northern Ireland has recorded 726 new cases, the second highest number in a day after a record 934 infections were reported on Friday. One more death was announced.

In Wales, there were five more deaths and 576 new cases, bringing the total number to 1,630 and 25,420 respectively.

It comes as plans emerged to vaccinate all adults in the UK against the disease at Easter.

Scientists at the University of Oxford are confident that their jab could be approved early next year and the government is preparing a three-month implementation schedule, according to The Times.

Meanwhile, four other places in the UK were put under stricter rules to contain the spread of the virus at midnight.

People in Middlesbrough, Liverpool, Warrington and Hartlepool can no longer meet friends or family indoors.

Some went out into the city for one last night before the local blockade took effect.

In other developments, Boris Johnson plans to suspend the ‘rule of six’ for Christmas Day, to allow families to celebrate together.

The prime minister said the government will do “everything possible” to ensure that the holidays are as “normal as possible,” even though there are no signs the outbreak is over by then.

When asked on ITV if he was saying that a family of five ‘can’t have both grandparents at Christmas,’ he said: ‘We’re not saying that at all.

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