[ad_1]
The UK has recorded a further 696 COVID-related deaths and another 18,213 cases, the highest daily total of deaths since May 5.
It’s the second six-month high in consecutive days, after the country recorded 11,299 cases and 608 related deaths on Tuesday.
The announcement brings the government’s official coronavirus death toll to 56,533.
Live updates on coronavirus from the UK and around the world
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
The prime minister said that people should make a careful judgment during Christmas.
However, separate figures released by UK statistical agencies for deaths where COVID-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, along with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show that now There have been 72,000 virus-related deaths across the country. .
The total number of cases in the UK now stands at 1,557,007.
It comes as scientists warned that Boris Johnson’s plans to ease coronavirus restrictions over Christmas risk “adding fuel to the COVID fire.”
For five days, between December 23 and 27, people from all over the UK can be mixed within a Christmas bubble of up to three households – but only in a private home, a place of worship, or public outdoor spaces.
The restrictions will be maintained for pubs, restaurants and the hotel industry in general, which described the rules as likely to “inflict unnecessary pain and irreversible damage.”
The latest figures also follow a sobering statement by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who announced a pay freeze for public sector workers outside the NHS in his one year expense review.
It comes as the government said it had detailed plans to address the spread of “lies” and misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines.
Health Minister Lord Bethell told his colleagues that there were plans to deal with both “misinformation based on confusion” and “misinformation based on malice”.
