Interactive map reveals Covid cases in YOUR area as mutant strain spreads
THIS interactive map reveals how cases of the coronavirus have changed in your area as the mutant variant continues to spread across the country.
Experts have warned that the lockdown currently in place could get tougher if infection rates don’t start to drop.
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Data from the government’s coronavirus dashboard states that as of January 10 over three million people tested positive for the virus – with nearly 55,000 people a day receiving a positive result.
The huge surge in cases has been blamed on a new coronavirus strain, which the Government was alerted to in mid December by scientists.
A mutant strain spread that started in the South East has now reached all corners of the UK.
Covid cases yesterday jumped by more than 50,000 for the 13th day in a row as deaths rose by 563 – pushing the total number of victims to more than 81,000.
There are now 3,072,349 people infected with the disease in the UK after 54,950 tested positive.
It comes as:
- First patients get Covid jabs at mass vaccination centres that could deliver vaccines every 45 seconds
- Lockdown could be made TOUGHER with ban on meeting anyone from other household if people ignore rules, warns minister
- NHS facing ‘worst weeks of Covid’ storm, warns Chris Whitty as he urges Brits to ‘stay at home’
- The truth behind videos of ’empty’ hospitals shared by coronavirus sceptics and anti-lockdown activists
- Pubs set to stay shut for FIVE MONTHS until May as Boris Johnson mulls extending lockdown and only lifting it slowly
Brits are currently living under national lockdown restrictions as tier restrictions previously put in place failed to work against the new strain of the virus.
This is the third national lockdown that has been imposed on Brits in the last year.
Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi warned a fresh clampdown was on the cards, as coronavirus cases continued to rocket upwards despite the draconian rules and stay at home order.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4 this morning, Mr Zahawi said the Government wanted to avoid further rules, but warned the super-contagious new strain of the virus “loves social interactions”.
When asked if the current rules were going far enough, he said: “We don’t want to introduce tougher measures. The lockdown is tough, schools are shut.
“But it’s important to remember this virus loves social interactions -that is the best way for the virus to spread.”
And Mr Zahawi said ministers are “reviewing all the restrictions”.
He warned that a flashpoint was the virus spreading in supermarkets, after ministers threatened to crack down on shops not following social distancing, signalling a return to a long queues outside stores.
Mr Zahawi said: “I am worried about supermarkets, about people actually wearing masks, following the one way system and making sure when it’s at capacity, people are waiting outside.
“I am worried about some of the pictures I’ve seen about social interactions in parks.
“If you have to exercise you can go out for exercise only. We want to make sure people stay at home. That’s the message.”
Data from the government’s coronavirus dashboard shows that in the last seven days, there have been 366,346 cases in England, this means that around 650.0 people every 100,000 are infected with the virus.
In Wales 14,762 people are infected, with 468.2 per 100,000 having caught the virus.
In Scotland, 16,379 people are infected, with 299.8 people per 100,000 having tested positive for the virus.
In Northern Ireland 12,716 people have the virus with 671.5 people per 100,000 having tested postive.
This morning Professor Chris Whitty warned that people needed to continue to follow the rules in order for lockdown to end and for infections rates to drop off.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme he highlighted that one in 50 people in the country now have Covid-19.
He also added that around 1 in 20 people in London now have the virus.
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During a BBC phone-in on the current high case rates, he said: “I don’t think we’re yet at the peak, I’m afraid.
“I think we will be at the peak if everybody can double down and absolutely minimise their contacts.
“The point of the lockdown is to bring that forward, but it only works if everyone really thinks about every individual interaction they have and try and minimise them.”
But he also gave hope to millions struggling under the current restrictions – and said there is ‘no doubt’ that life will soon go on as it did before the pandemic.