Daily UK covid deaths fall as another 174 people die but cases rise slightly with 23,012 new infections
THE daily number of coronavirus deaths in Britain has fallen with 174 people dying – but cases have risen with 23,012 more infections.
New figures released this afternoon show a total 854,010 people have now tested positive for Covid-19 in the UK.
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Figures released today show 23,012 more people have tested positive for Covid-19[/caption]Deaths have fallen, with 174 reported to have died from the virus – 50 less than yesterday.
However, cases have risen by 2,482 – up from yesterday’s figure of 20,530.
Today’s figure is still less than Wednesday’s biggest ever infection rise of 26,688.
Fresh data shows a total 141 new deaths were recorded in England, 16 in Wales, 11 in Scotland, and six in Northern Ireland.
DEATHS SLOW
The total number of deaths since the pandemic began is now 44,745.
In Wales, a further 1,324 people tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 41,577.
Public Health Wales said the total number of deaths in the country has risen to 1,772.
If it is only one or two days the impact is likely to be limited.”
Prof Ferguson
Professor Neil Ferguson, the man behind Britain’s March lockdown, said one or two days of relaxing lockdown rules wouldn’t cause the virus to drastically spread out of control.
He told BBC Radio 4: “If it is only one or two days the impact is likely to be limited.
“So that is really a political judgment about the cost versus the benefits.”
But he warned: “It risks transmission and there will be consequences of that. Some people will die because of getting infected on that day.”
Boris Johnson has said he is “hopeful” Christmas could be as close to normal as possible.
CASES RISE
Yesterday, it was revealed areas of the North West such as Knowsley and Liverpool have the highest rate of Covid cases in England – as Blackburn with Darwen creeps into the top five of the most infected places.
Places further north such as West Lancashire and Blackpool also have more than 400 cases per 100,000 of the population.
Earlier this week it was revealed that Greater Manchester would be pushed into a Tier 3 lockdown – as part of the government’s drive to curb infections in the area.
Blackburn with Darwen – which was previously classed as a Covid hotspot area, is in the top five most infected places in the country and currently has 575.8 infection per 100,000.
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It is the fourth most infected place in the country and sits behind, Knowsley, Nottingham and Liverpool.
ONS studies have found there is clear evidence of antibody variation between regions, with the highest antibody positivity seen in London.
London was hit hard by the virus at the start of the pandemic and it was previously reported that some Londoners may have achieved herd immunity.