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The UK has reported 6,634 new coronavirus cases, the highest daily total ever recorded.
It is reported that 40 more people died within 28 days after testing positive for COVID-19, show the official figures. The last time the daily death toll exceeded 40 was on July 14, when 44 deaths were recorded.
All of the deaths occurred in England except two in Scotland and one in Wales.
England recorded the vast majority of coronavirus cases – 5,632 – followed by Scotland with 465 infections, Wales with 348 and Northern Ireland with 189.
Despite the record number of cases, the UK is still not close to a realistic comparison with the April and May peak, when Imperial College researchers have suggested there were more than 100,000 new infections a day.
Many of these cases would have been lost at the time when the more consistent community testing began in May.
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Sky News science correspondent Thomas Moore said of the numbers: “Although this is a new record for new confirmed COVID cases, things are not as bad as they seem.”
“The previous high was 6,201 reported cases on May 1. But then far fewer people were being tested. The actual number of new cases at the peak of the first wave is likely to be well over 100,000 per day.
“Even now it is estimated that the testing system only detects about a third of cases.
“Research from Imperial College London suggests that two-thirds of cases may be asymptomatic. That would mean that the actual number of daily infections could well be as high as 18,000.”
“We will better manage the overall infection rate on Friday when the Office for National Statistics (ONS) releases the latest results of its infection survey.
“They randomly test people whether they have symptoms or not and this is believed to be the most accurate indicator of the size of the epidemic.
“The key question now is whether the government has done enough to reverse the increase with its rule of six, the early closure of pubs and restaurants, etc.
“The incubation period for COVID-19 is on average five to six days, so it won’t show up in the numbers until well into next week.
“Many scientists believe that much stricter measures will be needed to make a difference.”
The latest numbers come as Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled a new scheme to support wages and avoid a winter job crisis.
Although he admitted that some will still face an uncertain future, the plan will increase the salaries of staff who work just a third of their normal hours.
Designed to save roles that will be “viable” in the long term, the scheme will begin in November.
