In the past week, a total of 277,261 new cases have been diagnosed – a rise of 14.5 per cent on the previous week, government figures show. And another 199 deaths were reported in 24 hours, the data shows, bringing the UK total to 143,559.
The UK has recorded its highest number of daily Covid-19 cases in nearly a month – 46,807. It’s the worst one-day figure for new infections since 22 October.
But separate figures from the Office for National Statistics show there have been 168,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
The UK Health Security Agency said case rates were highest in children aged five to nine and lowest in the over-80s.
One in 10 cases in England is caused by a mutation of the Covid-19 Delta variant, which has been found to be more infectious, a new study has shown.
About 88 per cent of the UK population has now had a first coronavirus jab, and nearly one in four has had a booster, according to official data.
A total of 50,679,073 first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine had been delivered in the UK by Wednesday – a rise of 33,092 on Tuesday.
Some 46,087,958 second doses have been delivered, an increase of 22,120. A combined total of 13,879,311 booster and third doses have also been given, a day-on-day rise of 384,421.
In Europe, countries including Ireland and Austria have started reimposing or are considering reimposing restrictions amid rising infections and deaths.
Germany will limit large parts of public life in areas where hospitals are becoming dangerously full of Covid patients to those who have either been vaccinated or have recovered from the illness, a document showed.
Doctor Recommends Coloradans Use COVID At-Home Tests Before Thanksgiving Gatherings
With Thanksgiving a day away, health experts are pleading with people to take COVID seriously as they prepare to spend time with friends and family. One of the ways in doing so is by testing your guests for COVID before hosting or attending a gathering.
There are two different at-home COVID tests. Antigen tests can get you results in 10 to 15 minutes, while a molecular test can get you an answer in an hour or less.
“The recommendation is a rapid antigen testing, to see if you’re currently infected,” said Dr. Nathan Newman of Santa Monica Urgent Care. “It gives you an answer almost immediately and it’s accurate when tested a few days into an illness. And it’s going to give you an idea of if you’re contagious to other people or not.”
Doctors say unvaccinated guests, including kids, should still be wearing masks indoors.
“Unvaccinated people should be tested if they’re coming to the table. They’re much more likely to spread infection even if they have asymptomatic infection,” Dr. Newman said.
CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid are selling the at-home tests for $23.99.
