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A record number of coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the UK last day along with another 563 deaths.
Another 33,470 people tested positive for coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the highest number on record since the pandemic began, according to government figures.
The total number of cases in the UK has risen to 1,290,195.
Thursday’s figure is a 45.8 percent increase over Wednesday’s numbers, when 22,950 people tested positive.
The government said another 563 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Thursday, bringing the UK total to 50,928.
In a statement on the increase in the number of cases, the Department of Health and Social Care said: “As we have seen throughout this pandemic, there can be daily fluctuations in the data, so it is important to avoid drawing conclusions from the one-day figures “.
Instead, we must focus on the broader trend that is increasing, especially those at higher risk of disease.
“There was an increase in infections before the national restrictions were put in place and it is vital that everyone follows the instructions and cares about washing their hands, covering their face and reducing social contact, all of which turned out to be very effective in lowering rates. broadcast earlier this year. “
Experts previously cautioned against describing the daily figure as a record, as it’s unclear how many people were actually infected during the height of the first wave, due to a lack of community testing at the time.
NHS England Medical Director Professor Stephen Powis said there are now more than 12,700 people hospitalized with coronavirus in England, up from 3,827 a month ago.
He said at the Downing Street press conference on Thursday: “Unfortunately, that number will continue to rise if infection rates continue to rise in our communities.
“Unfortunately, while treatments and therapies have improved, more infections inevitably also mean more deaths and more people suffering from the debilitating effects of prolonged Covid.”
He stressed that despite the positive vaccine news, it was “vital” to continue to follow the “hands, face and space” guide, and urged all people with symptoms to get tested.
Both measures will slow the growth of infections that will inevitably lead to an increase in hospital admissions and, sadly, an increase in deaths.
“There is hope on the horizon with a vaccine and of course it is good news, but the vaccine is not here yet and it will not help us in this second wave if infections continue to increase.”
The UK is the first European nation to record more than 50,000 deaths from coronavirus.
