UK records surge of 35,928 Covid-19 cases in one day

THERE was an unprecedented surge in the number of people with coronavirus infections in UK yesterday as the country recorded 35,928 new cases.

The new Covid-19 strain was said to have caused a 94.8 percent rise in the infections.

This highest daily rise brings the total number of coronavirus cases in the UK to more than 2.04 million.

A further 326 deaths within 28 days of a positive test for the virus were also announced on Sunday, taking the UK’s death toll to 67,401.

The new strain – called ‘VUI – 202012/01’ – is 70 percent more infectious and makes up 60 percent of London’s new cases, Boris Johnson revealed on Saturday.

He also warned that the strain could increase the crucial R rate by 0.4.

The government has also introduced tougher restrictions in London and the southeast of England to try to curb the spread of a new, fast-spreading variant of the virus, while Wales has entered another national lockdown.

Nicola Sturgeon has banned travel in and out of Scotland.

Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said the decision to put millions into an effective lockdown under tier 4 measures was taken rapidly after evidence showed the new strain was responsible for spiralling cases.

The announcement made by the UK had prompted several EU nations to halt flights coming from Britain over concerns about the new Covid-19 strain known as VUI 202012/01, with Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Italy all announcing restrictions on UK travel.