COVID-19: UK records 41,385 new coronavirus cases and 357 more deaths

The UK has recorded its highest daily increase in coronavirus cases since the pandemic began with 41,385 positive tests.

It is the first time the daily number of cases reported in the UK has topped 40,000, however testing has increased significantly.

A further 357 deaths were recorded within 28 days of a positive test, bringing the UK total to 71,109

It compares to yesterday’s increases of 30,501 confirmed coronavirus cases and 316 related deaths.

Dr Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at Public Health England (PHE), said: “This very high level of infection is of growing concern at a time when our hospitals are at their most vulnerable, with new admissions rising in many regions.

“Despite unprecedented levels of infection, there is hope on the horizon.

“We can tackle this virus by working together as the vaccine continues to reach the most vulnerable first, and then many more over the weeks and months ahead.”

According to government figures, there were 21,286 people in hospital with coronavirus across the UK on 22 December, which is the last day for which data is available.

This is slightly less than the 21,683 patients recorded on 12 April.

Infection rates in England are currently highest in areas of Essex, London and other parts of the South East.

Brentwood in Essex has the highest rate in England, with 1,111 new cases recorded in the seven days to 23 December – the equivalent of 1,442.5 cases per 100,000 people.

The area is in Tier 4 of COVID-19 restrictions along with most of the south of the country, with socialising banned and people told to stay home.

A review which will decide whether more areas will be moved into the harshest tier is expected on 30 December, as the new highly infectious variant of coronavirus spreads across the UK and the world.

The true figures for the UK are likely to be higher as Scotland is not releasing death data between 25 and 28 December, while Northern Ireland is not providing figures on cases or deaths over this period.

A further 318 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 48,860, NHS England said on Monday.

Patients were aged between 38 and 100. All except 13, aged between 64 and 92, had known underlying health conditions.

The deaths were between 13 and 27 December.

There were 12 other deaths reported with no positive COVID-19 test result.

Figures published by the UK government often do not correlate with totals from the nation-specific health bodies, due to differences in the timeframes and methods with which cases and deaths are recorded.

(c) Sky News 2020: COVID-19: UK records 41,385 new coronavirus cases and 357 more deaths