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Daily coronavirus cases in the UK have reached a four-month high for the second day in a row, the latest government figures show.
A total of 4,422 people tested positive for the virus in the past 24 hours, 100 new cases more than Friday and the highest daily total since May 8. Another 27 people died within 28 days of testing positive for the virus from Saturday, bringing the death toll in the UK to 41,759.
Separate figures released by UK statistical agencies showed that 57,500 deaths have been recorded in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. Since the start of the pandemic, 390,358 people in the UK have been infected with the virus.
The record increase came as doctors urged the government to introduce stronger measures in England to slow the spread of the virus and prevent another national lockdown.
The British Medical Association (BMA) is calling on the government to reconsider the “rule of six”, which was introduced in England on Monday, which bans social gatherings of more than six people. The rule of six currently makes it possible for members of six households to meet indoors, potentially many times over the course of a day.
It also urges the government to reverse its stance that workers return to the office and instead encourage the public to work from home to reduce transmission of the virus on public transportation.
“It is vital to reduce the avoidable mix of people at a time when the infection is spreading without the ability to test to identify people with the infection,” said BMA President Dr. Chaand Nagpaul.
The BMA added that unnecessary travel and social gatherings should be discouraged, while suggesting a “take out to help” approach similar to the Chancellor’s “eat out to help” scheme.
It also called for inputs to indoor public settings to provide low-cost disposable surgical masks and for people over 60 who have underlying conditions to wear medical grade masks.
Nagpaul described the country’s testing program as “regrettable” and said it “has neither the capacity nor the agility we need to test at scale.”
He continued: “Testing is now effectively rationed, so we must prioritize testing for those who need it, such as people with symptoms and key workers, including health personnel and teachers, along with suspected cases who are contacts. key workers. “
Professor Neil Ferguson, the epidemiologist whose model helped shape Britain’s coronavirus lockdown strategy, has also said that new restrictions will be needed in England “sooner rather than later” to prevent infections from re-emerging.
He said the country was facing a “perfect storm” after controls were relaxed over the summer, and told BBC Radio 4’s Today show that current infection levels were on par with those at the end of February.
