London, United Kingdom
The United Kingdom, in full gear of the epidemic of Covid-19 attributed to a mutation of the virus, Tuesday registered 53,135 new cases, a record number, according to a government balance.
This increase brings the total number of registered cases to 2,382,865 since the start of the pandemic, including 71,567 deaths (+414 announced Tuesday).
“We continue to see record levels of COVID-19 infection in the UK, which is extremely concerning, especially as our hospitals are the most vulnerable,” said Susan Hopkins, Senior Medical Adviser for Public Health England.
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These latest figures are because the government is under pressure to introduce tougher restrictions, including delaying return to school.
The UK is competing with Italy for the highest number of deaths from the disease in Europe and is now fighting a new variant of COVID that scientists say could spread faster.
The prominent epidemiologist advising the UK government, Andrew Hayward, in turn warned that Britain is heading for “catastrophe” in the coming weeks if it does not take tougher measures against the most contagious form of the disease.
More than 24 million people, or 43% of England, already live under strict measures such as stay at home, closed bars, restaurants and pubs.